Question

What is the gravitational potential energy of the Earth and Sun? The Earth to Sun distance is around 150 million km. The mass of the Earth is 5.9 × 10²⁴ kg and the mass of the Sun is 1.9 × 10³⁰ kg.

Answer 1

Given: r = 150 million km

r = 150 × 10⁶ km

= 150 × 10⁹m

M_e = 5.9 × 10²⁴ kg

M_s = 1.9 × 10³⁰ kg

To find: Potential energy (U)

Formula:

Potential energy (U) = `-("GM"_"e""M"_"s")/"r"`

= `-(6.67 xx 10^-11 xx 5.9 xx 10^24 xx 1.9 xx 10^30)/(150 xx 10^9)`

= `-0.4984 xx 10^(- 11 - 9 + 24 + 30)`

= − 0.4984 × 10³⁴

Potential energy (U) = − 49.84 × 10³² J