The International Space Station has a mass of 419,455 kg. When it orbits the Earth at an altitude of 400,000 m, what is the approximate gravitational force
on the Station due to Earth's gravity? (Recall that Earth has a radius of 6.37 x
106 m, it has a mass of 5.97 x 1024 kg, and G = 6.67 x 10-11 N·m²/kg2.)
O A. 3.9 ~ 106N
B. 2.0 x 106N
O C. 3.6 x 106N
O D. 2.8 x 106N

Explanation:

Given that,

The mass of International Space Station, m = 419,455 kg

It orbits around the Earth at an altitude of, h = 400,000 m

The radius of Earth,

The mass of the Earth,

We need to find the approximate gravitational force  on the Station due to Earth's gravity. The formula for the gravitational force between the satellite and the Earth is given by :

So, the required force on the station due to Earth's gravity is .

54 degrees incident angle = reflected angle

angle is from normal turned to line of ray