Physics

Problem

The mass of the Earth is

5.97\times10^{24}\,\text{kg}

and its mean radius is

6.37\times10^{6}\,\text{m}

. (a) Calculate the gravitational potential at the Earth’s surface. (b) Determine the gravitational potential at an altitude of

5.00\times10^{5}\,\text{m}

above the surface, assuming the Earth behaves as a point mass for

r>R

. (c) Find the potential difference between these two points. (d) Hence compute the work that must be done by an external agent to lift a satellite of mass

1200\,\text{kg}

from the surface to this altitude.

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