Answer:
The weight of the astronaut is 0.4802 N.
Explanation:
Gravitational potential energy, [tex]U=2.94\times 10^6\ J[/tex]
Distance above earth, [tex]d=4\times 10^5\ m[/tex]
The gravitational potential energy is given by :
[tex]U=\dfrac{GMm}{R}[/tex]
G is universal gravitational constant
M is the mass of Earth, [tex]M=5.97\times 10^{24}\ kg[/tex]
m is mass of astronaut
R is the radius of earth, R = R + d
[tex]R=6.37\times 10^6\ m+4\times 10^5\ m=6770000\ m[/tex]
[tex]m=\dfrac{U(R+d)^2}{GM}[/tex]
[tex]m=\dfrac{2.94\times 10^6\ J\times (6770000\ m)}{6.67\times 10^{-11}\times 5.97\times 10^{24}\ kg}[/tex]
m = 0.049 kg
The weight of the astronaut is given by :
W = mg
[tex]W=0.049\ kg\times 9.8\ m/s^2[/tex]
W = 0.4802 N
So, the weight of the astronaut when he returns to the earth surface is 0.4802 N. Hence, this is the required solution.
