Acceleration Due to Gravity and its variation: Practice Problem & Solution
A body weighs $72 \text{ N}$ on the surface of the earth. What is the gravitation force on it, at a height equal to half the radius of the earth? (2020)
Solution Explained:
To solve this problem, we apply the core principles of Acceleration Due to Gravity and its variation. Understanding the underlying formula is key to arriving at the correct answer below:
The weight at height $h$ is given by $$W_h = \frac{W}{(1 + \frac{h}{R})^2}$$.nSubstituting $h = \frac{R}{2}$, we get $$W_h = \frac{72}{(1 + \frac{1}{2})^2} = \frac{72}{(\frac{3}{2})^2}$.n$W_h = 72 \times \frac{4}{9} = 32 \text{ N}$$.
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