A person weighs 750N on the Earth’s surface. The same person is carried in a spacecraft to an altitude of 400km above the surface.
Assume g=9.8m s−2 and R=6.4×106m.
a. (i) Calculate the acceleration due to gravity at the stated altitude using a suitable relation.
b. (ii) Hence determine the person’s weight at that altitude.
c. (iii) Find the fractional change in weight and express it as a percentage.