An apple of mass is released from rest at a height of above Earth’s surface
PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials
Problem
An apple of mass 0.10kg is released from rest at a height of 1.0m above Earth’s surface. Ignore air resistance and assume the magnitude of Earth’s gravitational field at that location is 9.80ms−2. The mass of Earth is 6.0×1024kg.
(1) Part 1: Calculate the magnitude of the gravitational force exerted on the apple by Earth.
(2) Part 2: State the magnitude of the force exerted on Earth by the apple and explain your reasoning.
(3) Part 3: Determine the magnitude of Earth’s acceleration produced by the force calculated in part (b).
(4) Part 4: Estimate the displacement of Earth’s center during the first 1.0s of the apple’s fall.
(5) Part 5: Using your numerical results and appropriate reasoning, explain why the apple’s motion is easily observed while Earth’s motion is not.