Question

you may complete this review up to 3 times. you can earn up to 10 points of extra credit on the unit 4 quiz. round all numerical answers to the fourth digit behind the decimal place. enter all numerical answers in standard floating notation (normal decimals), not scientific notation. question 17 1 pts a gravitational field strength sensor is placed on the surface of the earth, 200,000 miles above the surface of the earth, and then 400,000 miles above the surface of the earth. how will the readings of the sensors compare? the gravitational field strength will become weaker as the sensors are placed at higher altitudes the gravitational field strength will be the same at all altitudes. the gravitational field strength will become stronger as the altitude increases the gravitational field strength will be non - zero on earths surface, and will be zero at both 200,000 meters and 400,000 meters.

Explanation:

The formula for gravitational field strength \(g=\frac{GM}{r^{2}}\), where \(G\) is the gravitational constant, \(M\) is the mass of the Earth, and \(r\) is the distance from the center of the Earth. As the altitude \(h\) (distance from the Earth's surface) increases, \(r = R_{E}+h\) (where \(R_{E}\) is the radius of the Earth) increases. Since \(g\propto\frac{1}{r^{2}}\), when \(r\) gets larger, \(g\) gets smaller. So the gravitational field strength becomes weaker as the altitude (distance from the Earth's surface) increases.

Answer:

The gravitational field strength will become weaker as the sensors are placed at higher altitudes.