Question

An astronaut is outside performing a spacewalk near the International Space Station. With her spacesuit and all equipment, she has a mass of 200 kg. The space station has a mass of 419,600 kg. What is the gravitational potential energy when she is 10.0 m from the center of mass of the space station?

• A. $5.60\times {10}^{-3}J.$
• B. $5.60\times {10}^{-2}J.$
• C. $5.60\times {10}^{-4}J.$
• D. $5.60\times {10}^{-5}J.$

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

$5.60\times {10}^{-4}J.$

Solution:

$U=-G\frac{m_1{m}_2}{r}$

$m_1=200kg$

$m_2=419600kg$

$r=10m$

$U=-\frac{6.67408\times {10}^{-11}\times 200\times 419600}{10}$

$U=5.60\times {10}^{-4}J$

Hence the correct opt: C