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The spaceship Enterprise, of mass m = 20,000 kg, is motionless at a distance d = 20,000 km away from the Earth.

  1. What is the gravitational force on the Enterprise due to the Earth at this location?

    Scotty turns on the engines and the Enterprise shoots away from the Earth. When it reaches a distance of L = 30,000 km, it is going v = 3,000 m/s.

  2. How much work did gravity do on the Enterprise as it moved?
  3. How much work did the engines do on the Enterprise during the motion?

Let's move on ...

Creative Commons License Copyright © Michael Richmond. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.