An object in the vacuum of space orbits the earth at a fixed speed in a circular orbit several
hundred miles above the earth. What can we conclude about the reaction force?
a) That there is no reaction force-the net force on the object is zero, so the reaction
force is zero too.
b) The reaction force is a force that acts on the earth directed upward toward the object.
c) There is no reaction force- there’s a net force on the object, but zero reaction force because the
object is out in space.
d) The reaction force is a normal force that acts upward from the Earth’s surface.
No one has answered this question yet.
To answer this question, we need to understand the basic concept of circular motion and the forces involved. When an object is in a circular orbit around the Earth, it experiences a centripetal force, which is directed towards the center of the circular path. According to Newton's third law of motion, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
In this scenario, the centripetal force acting on the object is provided by the gravitational force between the Earth and the object. The force of gravity pulls the object towards the center of the Earth, allowing it to maintain the circular orbit. The reaction force to this gravitational force is the force exerted by the object on the Earth.
So, the correct answer is (b) The reaction force is a force that acts on the Earth directed upward toward the object.
To arrive at this conclusion, we need to apply Newton's third law and understand the forces involved in the circular orbit.
The correct answer is b) The reaction force is a force that acts on the earth directed upward toward the object.
In this scenario, the object is in a circular orbit around the Earth. According to Newton's third law of motion, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The object exerts a gravitational force on the Earth, causing it to be pulled slightly towards the object.
Therefore, the reaction force to the object's motion in the circular orbit is a force that acts on the Earth directed upward toward the object. This reaction force keeps the object in its orbit and is necessary to maintain the balance of forces in the system.