On the Moon (mass

PHYSICS · Multi-part · Fermi University Physics · Relativity & Gravitation · The equivalence principle and gravity as geometry · The equivalence principle and gravity as geometry

Relativity and Gravitation, Ch Gravity as curved spacetime: redshift and local inertial frames

Problem

On the Moon (mass M=7.35×1022 kgM = 7.35\times10^{22}\ \mathrm{kg}, radius R=1.738×106 mR = 1.738\times10^{6}\ \mathrm{m}, non-rotating, no atmosphere) a clock is thrown vertically upward from a marked point and caught at the same point T=6.00 sT = 6.00\ \mathrm{s} later. A second, identical clock is held at rest at the marked point throughout. Treat the field as uniform over the flight, and work to first order in Φ/c2\Phi/c^{2} and v2/c2v^{2}/c^{2}, with Φ\Phi measured from the launch point. Take G=6.674×10−11 N m2 kg−2G = 6.674\times10^{-11}\ \mathrm{N\,m^{2}\,kg^{-2}} and c=2.998×108 m s−1c = 2.998\times10^{8}\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}. ((a)) Find the surface gravitational field strength gg of the Moon. ((b)) Find the greatest height above the launch point reached by the thrown clock. ((c)) By how much proper time is the thrown clock ahead of the held clock when they meet again?

Browse the problem library