- #1
sour_lemon_1k
- 3
- 0
Homework Statement
Materials to construct an 12000 kg lunar observatory are boosted from the Earth's surface to an orbit of 4100 km. In orbit, the observatory is assembled and launched to the moon, 384000 km from Earth.
Compare the work that must be done against Earth's gravity on the two legs of the trip. (Hint: work done against gravity is change in potential energy)
Work to get to orbit: ________ joules
Work to get from orbit to moon: ______________ joules
Homework Equations
possibly U=-GMm/r or U=-GMm/Re + mgh?
Me=5.97*10^24 kg
G=6.637*10^-11
Re=6.37*10^6 m
The Attempt at a Solution
for a)
U=-G(5.97*10^24 kg)(12000 kg)/(6.37*10^6 m+4100*10^3 m)
=-4.54*10^11 joules
(both neg and positive of this answer did not work)
mgh gives you almost the same thing, so i don't think that's the answer either (but feel free to prove me wrong). I've talked with my friend, and she tried -GMm/(Re+alt)-(-GMm/(Re)) and it also didn't work.
didn't try b) because my answers for a were wrong...help?
thanks!