First slide
Gravitational field intensity
Question

In a cosmic event, suppose a planet heavier than the earth with mass KM (K > 1) and radius K'R (K' > 1) passes through a path near the earth (M and R are the mass and radius of earth).At what closest distance from surface of planet, we are in danger of being thrown into space:

Moderate
Solution

We will be thrown into space, if weight mg is equal to gravitational force due to the planet. If y is the closest distance.

GMmR2=mg=G(KM)mKR+y2KR+y2=KGMgy=KGMg1/2KR

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