Astrology, that unlikely and vague pseudoscience, makes much of the position of

Question

Astrology, that unlikely and vague pseudoscience, makes much of the position of the planets at the moment of one's birth. The only known force a planet exerts on Earth is gravitational.

(a)

Calculate the magnitude of the gravitational force (in N) exerted on a 4.00 kg baby by a 90 kg father 0.200 m away at birth (he is assisting, so he is close to the child.)

(b)

Calculate the magnitude of the force on the baby (in N) due to Jupiter if it is at its closest distance to Earth, some 6.29 1011 m away. Other objects in the room and the hospital building also exert similar gravitational forces. (Of course, there could be an unknown force acting, but scientists first need to be convinced that there is even an effect, much less that an unknown force causes it.)

C.) How does the force of Jupiter on the baby compare to the force of the father on the baby?

Explanation / Answer

m =mass of baby = 4 kg

M = mass of father = 90 kg

r = distance = 0.2 m

gravitational force is given as

F = G m M /r2

F = (6.67 x 10-11) (4) (90)/(0.2)2

F = 6 x 10-7 N

b)

M' = mass of jupitor = 1.89 x 1027 kg

r = distance between baby and jupitor = 6.29 x 1011 m

gravitational force is given as

F' = G m M' /r2

F' = (6.67 x 10-11) (4) (1.89 x 1027)/(6.29 x 1011)2

F' = 1.3 x 10-6 N

c)

F'/F = (1.3 x 10-6 )/(6 x 10-7) = 2.2

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