ITM, Institucin universitaria

Homework 1. Course: FCX44.

Professor: Javier Vargas Valencia
1. We have three uniform spheres of mass 2 kg, 4 kg, and 6
kg, that are placed at the corners of a right as in the following
figure. Calculate the resultant gravitational force on the 4 kg
object, assuming the spheres are isolated from the rest of the
universe.




2. Compute the magnitude and direction of the gravitational field at a
point P on the perpendicular bisector of the lines joining two objects
of equal mass separated by a distance 2a as shown in next figure



3. Determine the escape speed for a rocket on the
far side of Ganymede, the largest of Jupiters
moons (you can see the next figure). Investigate
the radius of Ganymede.




4. An object is fired vertically upward from the surface of the earth (of radius RE) with an initial speed vi that
is comparable to but less than the escape speed vesc. (a) Show that the object attains a maximum height h
given by
2 2
2
i esc
i E
v v
v R
h

(b) A space vehicle is launched vertically upward from the earth surface with an initial speed of 8,76 km/s
which is less than the escape speed of 11,2 km/s. What maximum height does attain?. (c) A meteorite falls
toward the earth. It is essentially at rest to respect to the earth when it is at the height of 2,51x10
7
m. With
what speed does the meteorite strikes the earth?.
5. Two spheres having masses M and 2M, and radii R and 3R respectively, are released from rest when the
distance between their centers is 12R. How fast will each sphere be moving when they collide? Assume that
the two spheres interact only with each other.
6. A certain quaternary stars system consists of three stars, each of mass m, moving in the same circular orbit
of radius r about a central star of mass M. The stars orbit in the same sense, and are positioned one third of a
revolution apart from each other. Show that the period of each of the three stars is given by:
) 3 / (
2
3
m M G
r
T

7. The maximum distance from the Earth to the Sun (at our aphelion) is 1,521x10
11
m, and the distance of
closest approach (at perihelion) is 1,471x10
11
m. If the Earths orbital speed at perihelion is 3,027x10
4
m/s,
determine (a) the Earths orbital speed at aphelion, (b) the kinetic and potential energies of the EarthSun
system at perihelion, and (c) the kinetic and potential energies at aphelion. Is the total energy constant?
(Ignore the effect of the Moon and other planets.)
8. The Explorer VIII satellite, placed into orbit November 3, 1960, to investigate the ionosphere, had the
following orbit parameters: perigee, 459 km; apogee, 2289 km (both above the Earths surface); period,
112,7 min. Find the ratio vp/va of the speed at perigee to that at apogee.
9. Two planets X and Y travel counterclockwise in circular orbits about a star as in Figure (a). The radii of
their orbits are in the ratio 3:1. At some time, they are aligned as in the Figure (b), making a straight line with
the star. During the next five years, the angular displacement of planet X is 90.0, as in Figure (b). Where is
planet Y at this time?



10. Show that the escape speed from the surface of a planet of uniform density is directly proportional to the
radius of the planet.