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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.
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Solution
Given: r = 150 million km
r = 150 × 106 km
= 150 × 109m
Me = 5.9 × 1024 kg
Ms = 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
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