An astronaut of mass is working on a satellite orbiting the earth at a distance from…

PHYSICS · Single correct · A Level · Physics · Fields and their consequences · Fields and their consequences

Problem

An astronaut of mass

m

is working on a satellite orbiting the earth at a distance

h

from the earth's surface. The radius of the earth is

R

, while its mass is

M

. The gravitational pull

F_G

on the astronaut is: (1) Zero since astronaut feels weightless (2)

\frac{GMm}{(R+h)^2} < F_G < \frac{GMm}{R^2}

(3)

F_G = \frac{GMm}{(R+h)^2}

(4)

0 < F_G < \frac{GMm}{R^2}