Question

A body weighs 63 N on the surface of the earth. What is the gravitational force on it due to the earth at a height equal to half the radius of the earth?

Answer 1

Weight of the body, W = 63 N

Acceleration due to gravity at height h from the Earth’s surface is given by the relation:

`g = g/((1+h)/R_e)^2`

Where,

g = Acceleration due to gravity on the Earth’s surface

Re = Radius of the Earth

For h = `R_e/2`

`g = g/(1+R_e/(2xxR_e))^2 = g/(1+1/2)^2 = 4/9 g`

Weight of a body of mass m at height h is given as:

W' = mg

`= mxx4/9 g = 4/9xx mg`

`= 4/9 W`

`= 4/9 xx 63 = 28 N`

Answer 2

Let g_h be the acceleration due to gravity at a height equal to half the radius of the Earth (h = R/2) and g its value on Earth’s surface. Let the body have mass m.

We know that

`(g_h)/g = (R/(R+h))^2 or (g_h)/g = (R/(R+R/2))^2 = (2/3)^2 = 4/9`

Let W be the weight of body on the surface oof Earth and `W_h` thge weight of the body at height h.

Then `(W_h)/W = (mg_h)/mg = (g_h)/g = 4/9`

or `W_h = 4/9 W = 4/9 xx 63 N = 28 N`