The moon moves almost uniformly around a circle with a radius of 384,000 km, making one revolution
The moon moves almost uniformly around a circle with a radius of 384,000 km, making one revolution around the Earth in 27.3 days. Calculate the speed and centripetal acceleration of the moon.
R = 384,000 km = 384,000,000 m.
T = 27.3 days = 2358720 s.
V -?
a -?
To find the speed of the moon V, it is necessary to divide its path S by the time of its passage t: V = S / t.
During one complete revolution T = 2358720 s, the Moon travels a path S equal to the circumference of a circle with a radius R: V = S / T = 2 * п * R / T.
V = 2 * 3.14 * 384,000,000 m / 2358720 s = 1022.4 m / s.
The centripetal acceleration of the Moon a is expressed by the formula: a = V2 / R.
a = (1022.4 m / s) 2/384000000 m = 0.0027 m / s2.
Answer: The moon moves at a speed of V = 1022.4 m / s, the centripetal acceleration is a = 0.0027 m / s2.