In $\mathbf { F } ( t ) = - \frac { \operatorname { GmM } \mathbf { r } ( t ) } { \| \mathbf { r } ( t ) \| ^ { 3 } }$ , r represents

A)The radius of the sun
B)The radius of the planet around the sun
C)The distance function between the planet and the sun
D)The position function of the sun
E)The position function of the planet about the sun

Question

In $\mathbf { F } ( t ) = - \frac { \operatorname { GmM } \mathbf { r } ( t ) } { \| \mathbf { r } ( t ) \| ^ { 3 } }$ , r represents

A)The radius of the sun
B)The radius of the planet around the sun
C)The distance function between the planet and the sun
D)The position function of the sun
E)The position function of the planet about the sun

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The vector $\mathbf{r}(t)$ represents the position function of the planet relative to the sun, as it is used to calculate the gravitational force acting on the planet.

In F(t)=−GmM⁡r(t)∥r(t)∥3\mathbf { F } ( t ) = - \frac { \operatorname { GmM } \mathbf { r } ( t ) } { \| \mathbf { r } ( t ) \| ^ { 3 } }F(t)=−∥r(t)∥3GmMr(t)​

In $\mathbf { F } ( t ) = - \frac { \operatorname { GmM } \mathbf { r } ( t ) } { \| \mathbf { r } ( t ) \| ^ { 3 } }$