SOLUTION: the weight of an object varies inversely as the square of its distance from the center of the planet it is on. If a person weighs 180 pounds on a planet's surface, what is his weig

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Question 514988: the weight of an object varies inversely as the square of its distance from the center of the planet it is on. If a person weighs 180 pounds on a planet's surface, what is his weight 250 miles above the surface of the planet? The planet's radius is 7000 miles.
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I can say +w+=+k%2A%281%2Fd%5E2%29+
+w+ = weight of person
+d+ = distance from center of planet
+k+ = constant to be determined
given:
+180+=+k%2A%281%2F7000%5E2%29+
+k+=+180%2A7000%5E2+
------------------
250 mi above the surface:
+w+=+k%2A%28+1+%2F+7250%5E2+%29+
+w+=+180%2A7000%5E2%2A%281%2F7250%5E2%29+
+w+=+180%2A%287000%2F7250%29%5E2+
+w+=+180%2A.9655%5E2+
+w+=+180%2A.9322+
+w+=+167.8+
His weight is 167.8 pounds