I'm supposed to find all the forces exerted onto Earth by all the planets and compare that sum of forces to the force the sun exerts, but I have a question:
When I get the answer by plugging in Mercury or another planet smaller than Earth, shouldn't I just through out that number, since that's the force the EARTH is exerting on said planet?
Should I still include those planets in my answers? I'm just a bit puzzle :/
any type of clarification would be nice :)
When I get the answer by plugging in Mercury or another planet smaller than Earth, shouldn't I just through out that number, since that's the force the EARTH is exerting on said planet?
Should I still include those planets in my answers? I'm just a bit puzzle :/
any type of clarification would be nice :)
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Look back at Newton's 3rd Law.
Whatever force the Earth is exerting on Mercury, Mecury is exerting an equal and opposite force on the Earth.
Whatever force the Earth is exerting on Mercury, Mecury is exerting an equal and opposite force on the Earth.