The Cosmic Perspective (8th Edition)
8th Edition
ISBN: 9780134059068
Author: Jeffrey O. Bennett, Megan O. Donahue, Nicholas Schneider, Mark Voit
Publisher: PEARSON
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Textbook Question
Chapter 4, Problem 35EAP
Testing Gravity. Scientists are continually trying to learn whether our current understanding of gravity is complete or must be modified. Describe how the observed motion of spacecraft headed out of our solar system (such as the Voyager spacecraft) can be used to test the accuracy of our current theory of gravity.
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c. The constraint for a Sun-synchronous and repeat ground-track orbit is given by T 86, 400, where T is the orbital period in seconds, m the
number of days and k the number of revolutions. Explain why this is, in fact, a constraint on the semi-major axis of the orbit.
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After completing this Lecture Tutorial, students should be able to:
distinguish between scientific hypotheses and nonscientific ideas.
Part 1: Comprehension of Hypotheses
A scientific hypothesis needs to (1) be supported by the majority of current data and (2) be
testable. An alien on Earth is wondering why a rubber ball falls back down to the ground
after it is thrown into the air. It comes up with several ideas about the ball.
a. Gravity is pulling the ball to the ground.
b.
A mystical force that cannot be measured is pushing the ball down.
c.
Earth's magnetic field is pulling on the rubber ball.
1. Which statement is NOT a hypothesis because it is not testable? a b c
2. Which statement is NOT a hypothesis because it is not supported by current data? a b c
3. Which statement IS a scientific hypothesis? a b c
Part 2: Application to Dinosaur Extinction
Below are possible scenarios explaining the extinction of the dinosaurs.
a. Dinosaurs were killed off by a virus.
b. A large meteorite…
Describe the relationship between gravity and planetary motion. What aspects have the greatest influence on the orbits of objects?
Chapter 4 Solutions
The Cosmic Perspective (8th Edition)
Ch. 4 - Prob. 1VSCCh. 4 - Use the following questions to check your...Ch. 4 - Use the following questions to check your...Ch. 4 - Use the following questions to check your...Ch. 4 - Use the following questions to check your...Ch. 4 - Define speed, velocity, and acceleration. What are...Ch. 4 - Define momentum and force. What do we mean when we...Ch. 4 - What is free-fall, and why does it make you...Ch. 4 - Prob. 4EAPCh. 4 - Describe the laws of conservation of momentum, of...
Ch. 4 - Define kinetic energy, radiative energy, and...Ch. 4 - Define temperature and thermal energy. How are...Ch. 4 - Prob. 8EAPCh. 4 - 9. Summarize the universal law of gravitation both...Ch. 4 - 10. What is the difference between a bound and an...Ch. 4 - What do we need to know if we want to measure an...Ch. 4 - Explain why orbits cannot change spontaneously,...Ch. 4 - Explain how the Moon creates tides on Earth. Why...Ch. 4 - What is tidal friction? What effects does it have...Ch. 4 - Does It Make Sense?
Decide whether the statement...Ch. 4 - Does It Make Sense?
Decide whether the statement...Ch. 4 - Does It Make Sense?
Decide whether the statement...Ch. 4 - Does It Make Sense?
Decide whether the statement...Ch. 4 - Prob. 19EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 20EAPCh. 4 - Does It Make Sense? Decide whether the statement...Ch. 4 - Does It Make Sense?
Decide whether the statement...Ch. 4 - Does It Make Sense?
Decide whether the statement...Ch. 4 - Does It Make Sense?
Decide whether the statement...Ch. 4 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 4 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 4 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 4 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 4 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 4 - Prob. 30EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 31EAPCh. 4 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 4 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 4 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 4 - Testing Gravity. Scientists are continually trying...Ch. 4 - Prob. 36EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 37EAPCh. 4 - 38. Weightlessness, Astronauts are weightless when...Ch. 4 - Prob. 39EAPCh. 4 - Gravitational Potential Energy. For each of the...Ch. 4 - Prob. 41EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 42EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 43EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 44EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 45EAPCh. 4 - Geostationary Orbit. A satellite in geostationary...Ch. 4 - Prob. 47EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 48EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 49EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 50EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 51EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 52EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 53EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 54EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 55EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 56EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 57EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 58EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 59EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 60EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 61EAPCh. 4 - Prob. 62EAP
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- Some people dismiss the validity of scientific theories by saying that they are “only” theories. The law of universal gravity is a theory. Does this mean that scientists still doubt its validity? Explain.arrow_forwardM M 1. What is the gravitational potential energy of the mass (m) in the picture? The mass is the same distance awayr from the centers of both of the other masses, and both of the other masses have the same mass, M. Give your answer in Joules. r= 400 million meters m = 7x1022 kg M = 2x1027 kg 2. What is the net gravitational force for the mass m at this location? Give your answer in Newtons.arrow_forwardNewton's Law of Gravitation 2. The magnitude of the acceleration of an object under the pull of Earth's gravity is given by Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation МЕ a = G R? where G is the universal gravitational constant, ME is the mass of Earth, and R is the distance of the object from the center of Earth. Let x be the distance above Earth's surface. We can rewrite the formula for the acceleration as a function of x by noting that R = Rp + x, where Rp is the radius of Earth. Therefore, МЕ a(x) = G- (RE + x)2 d. (a) Show that dx 1 1 (1 – x)* - x. (b) Use the above fact, along with the power series of 1 to determine a power 1- x 1 series for (1+x)²* (c) What is the radius of convergence for the series in part (b)? (Hint: You do not need to calculate anything. What is the radius of convergence for the power series of 1 does not change the radius of convergence.) -? This series has the same radius of convergence since taking a derivativearrow_forward
- 2. What effect does an excess of gravitational pull have on our bodies? 3. Extremely low gravity causes a planet to have a minimal atmosphere and sometimes not even one. Explain why? 4. The explanation for the most and least comfortable planet to live on are the following: 5. Which one is the planet with the strongest gravitational surface pull and why? 6. Which one is the planet with the weakest gravitational surface pull and why?arrow_forwardInclude appropriate units in your final answer. Round off your final answer to two decimal places. Box your final answer. Follow the given formulas 2. An electric fan is rotating at a constant 72,000 meters per hour, making one complete rotation in 0.17 seconds. (a) What is the magnitude of the speed of the bug sitting on one of fan's blades? (b) What is the magnitude of the acceleration of the bug sitting on one of fan's blades?arrow_forwardIf two planets have the same radius and one has a greater density (and hence a greater mass) than the other, then compared to the first planet the more massive planet a. a greater surface gravity b.the same surface gravity c. less surface gravity d. more information on the details of the planets are needed to answer this questionarrow_forward
- The Cavendish experiment marked a milestone in the study of gravity. Part A. What important value did the experiment determine? Part B. Why was this so difficult in terms of the masses use in the apparatus and the strength of the gravitational force?arrow_forwardWhich of the following statements could be considered scientific statements ? 1. There is water on the surface of Mars. 2. The universe contains atoms we will never detect. It is wrong to cheat. O A. C. 1 2, and 3 are all scientific B. None of the statements is scientific OC.A. Only 1 is scientific () D. B. 1 and 2 are scientificarrow_forwardSuppose you wish to calculate the acceleration of gravity on the surface of a distant planet. What properties of the planet must you know? Justify your answer.Suppose you wish to calculate the acceleration of gravity on the surface of a distant planet. What properties of the planet must you know? Justify your answer.arrow_forward
- Describe your approach to calculation of the gravitational field strength on a planet with a given size (e.g. diameter) and known escape velocity. a. Use Newton's law of universal gravitation. b. Use Newton's 3rd law. c. Use Newton's 1st law. d. Use law of conservation of energy. e. Use Newton's 2nd law.arrow_forwardObj 4.06 - Explain orbits using Newton’s Laws. Obj 4.07 - Explain orbits using Einstein’s theory of General Relativity. 1. The Indian Space Research Organisation (IRSO) recently launched Brazil’s Amazonia-1 satellite into orbit around Earth. The purpose of Amazonia-1 is to orbit geosynchronously over the Amazon rainforest to monitor and study the effects of deforestation on the climate. Explain how IRSO was able to get Amazonia-1 to orbit Earth using the language of Newton’s Laws. 2. Explain how IRSO was able to get Amazonia-1 to orbit Earth using the language of Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity.arrow_forwardFor the following questions, start your analyses by considering at least Newton's Law of Gravitation, centripetal acceleration, Kepler's law or Energy Conservation. Take the Gravitational constant to be a. From Earth we can measure the radius of Mars using our telescopes. An estimate for it is 3.39 x 106 m. By sending an exploratory robot to Mars, we determined the acceleration due to gravity on its surface as 3.73 m/s?. Estimate the mass of Mars. b. The Earth revolves around the Sun once a year at a distance of 1.50 x 1011 m. Estimate the mass of the Sun. c. A rocket is launched straight up from Earth's surface at 2100 m/s. By ignoring air resistance, determine the maximum height it reaches?arrow_forward
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