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Yosty22
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"Planet X" Gravitation Question
Planet X is a planet that has two spherical moons in circular orbits. The table summarizes the hypothetical data about the moons. Both moons have low axial spin rates. (G=6.67*10-11 Nm2/kg2).
Moon A: Mass=4.0*1020 kg. Radius - Data not provided. Moon orbit radius (center-to-center=2.0*108. Orbital period=4.0*106 s.
Moon B: Mass=1.5*1020 kg. Radius=2.0*105m. Moon orbit radius (center-to-center)=3.0*108 m. Orbital period - Data not provided.
a). Determine the acceleration due to gravity that you would expect on the surface of Moon B in m/s2.
b). What is the mass of planet X in kg?
Fg=[tex]\frac{GMm}{r^2}[/tex]
For part a, I have no idea where to even start. For part b, all I could think of doing was to solve for the velocity of moon A in its orbit around Planet X. To do this, I did VA=[tex]\frac{2 \pi R}{T}[/tex] and solved. I got that the velocity of Moon A around Planet X is 314.159 m/s. However, I don't know what to do from there.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Homework Statement
Planet X is a planet that has two spherical moons in circular orbits. The table summarizes the hypothetical data about the moons. Both moons have low axial spin rates. (G=6.67*10-11 Nm2/kg2).
Moon A: Mass=4.0*1020 kg. Radius - Data not provided. Moon orbit radius (center-to-center=2.0*108. Orbital period=4.0*106 s.
Moon B: Mass=1.5*1020 kg. Radius=2.0*105m. Moon orbit radius (center-to-center)=3.0*108 m. Orbital period - Data not provided.
a). Determine the acceleration due to gravity that you would expect on the surface of Moon B in m/s2.
b). What is the mass of planet X in kg?
Homework Equations
Fg=[tex]\frac{GMm}{r^2}[/tex]
The Attempt at a Solution
For part a, I have no idea where to even start. For part b, all I could think of doing was to solve for the velocity of moon A in its orbit around Planet X. To do this, I did VA=[tex]\frac{2 \pi R}{T}[/tex] and solved. I got that the velocity of Moon A around Planet X is 314.159 m/s. However, I don't know what to do from there.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.