The problem of finding the work done in lifting a payload from the surface of the moon is another type of work problem. Suppose the moon has a radius of R miles and the payload weighs P pounds at the surface of the moon (at a distance of R miles from the center of the moon). When the payload is x miles from the center of the moon (x ≥ R), the force required to overcome the gravitational attraction between the moon and the payload is given by the following relation: required force = f(x) = R2P x2 pounds. How much work would be needed to raise the payload from the surface of the moon (i.e., x = R) to an altitude of 3R miles above the surface of the moon (i.e., x = 4R)?

Respuesta :

We want to find the work needed to lift a payload to a given altitude.

The work needed is:

[tex]W = \frac{3}{4}*P*R[/tex]

We know that the weight of the payload is P, and the equation for the force needed to overcome the gravitational attraction is:

[tex]f(x) = P*\frac{R^2}{x^2}[/tex]

Where R is the radius of the moon.

We want to find the work needed to lift it from x = R to x = 4*R

Then we just need to integrate the given function between these values, we will get:

[tex]W = \int\limits^{4R}_R { P*\frac{R^2}{x^2}} \, dx \\\\W = P*R^2*[( -\frac{1}{4R} ) - (\frac{-1}{R} )]\\\\W = P*R^2* \frac{3}{4R} = \frac{3}{4}*P*R[/tex]

Then the work needed is:

[tex]W = \frac{3}{4}*P*R[/tex]

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