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Question:

An astronaut of mass m is working on a satellite orbiting the earth at a distance h from the earth's surface. The radius of the earth is R, while its mass is M. The gravitational pull FG on the astronaut is:

zero since astronaut feels weightless

0<FG<GMmR2

FG=GMm(R+h)2

Solution:

The correct option is D FG=GMm(R+h)2
The gravitational pull between two objects is dependent only on the mass of the objects and the distance between them. It is not dependent on other factors. By Newton's law of gravitation, it is given by:
F_G=GMm/(R+h)^2