Question

Using Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation, compare the gravitational pull of the Sun on the Earth to the gravitational pull of the Moon on the Earth.

Constants: Mass of the Moon, M☽= 7.348E22 kg. Moon's semi-major axis, a☽= 3.844E8 m. You can find the other constants you will need on the Astronomy Formula Chart.

(In Moodle, enter large numbers with scientific E notation. Example: 100 = 1.00*102 in scientific notation, or 1.00E2 in scientific E notation. Don't forget measurement units! If there are two blanks, enter the numerical value in the first blank, and the measurement unit in the second blank. Example: 1.0 m + 1.0 m = .)

The pull of the Sun on the Earth:
(G (Nm2)/kg2)(mass of sun, M☉ )(mass of earth, M♁ ) / (1 AU, Earth's semi-major axis, a♁ m)2 =

The pull of the Moon on the Earth:
(G (Nm2)/kg2)(mass of moon, M☽ )(mass of earth, M♁ ) / (moon's semi-major axis, a☽ m)2 =

So the pulls harder on the earth than the .