At a certain instant, the earth, the moon, and a stationary 1250 kg spacecraft lie at the vertices of an equilateral triangle whose sides are 3.84×105km in length. part a find the magnitude of the net gravitational force exerted on the spacecraft by the earth and moon. express your answer to three significant figures.

4.825 N

Explanation:

mass of earth. Me  = 6 x 10^24 kg

mass of moon, Mm = 7.34 x 10^22 kg

Mass of satellite, Ms = 1250 kg

length of side of triangle, a = 3.84 x 10^5 km = 3.84 x 10^8 m

A.

force on space craft by the earth

By substituting the values

F1 = 3.39 N

force on space craft by the moon

By substituting the values

F2 = 0.042 N

These two forces act at 60° with each other

F = 4.825 N