Login or Sign Up
  1. Login
  2. Search
Ask a New Question

A spaceship of mass m is located between two planets of masses M1 and M2; the distance between the two planets is L. Assume that L is much larger that the radius of either planet. What is the position of the spacecraft (given as a function of L, M1, and M2) if the net force on the spacecraft is zero?

Question ID
538764

Created
April 28, 2011 11:05pm UTC

Rating
0

URL
https://questions.llc/questions/538764

Answers
3

Views
963

3 answers

  1. GM1/r^2=GM2/(L-r)^2 solve for r, which is the distance from the center of M1

    Answer ID
    538767

    Created
    April 28, 2011 11:06pm UTC

    Rating
    0

    URL

  2. I tried that... I get L/(L+sqrt(M2-M1)) but that's not it...

    Answer ID
    538771

    Created
    April 28, 2011 11:17pm UTC

    Rating
    0

    URL

  3. recheck your algebra, dimensional analysis shows it is impossible.

    Answer ID
    538813

    Created
    April 28, 2011 11:55pm UTC

    Rating
    0

    URL

Answer this Question