Earth's gravity on the Moon

[Derek Smith]

I've tried Google but can't get what I want to win a bet.

What is the % of G on an object in the Moon's orbit.

[Derek Smith]

FarmyardPants said:

If you mean “what fraction of Earth’s gravity, relative to that experienced on the Earth’s surface, is experienced by an object at a distance equal to the distance between the earth and moon” then it would be a small fraction but obviously > 0.

That's the one.

The conversation, before the match, was around objects in a NEO. Then it went onto when it would 'run out.'

My contention is that it would be significant 250m miles away, i.e. a little over the Moon's orbit. Significant meaning that it would be still under the control of the Earth's gravity. I the scenario we were discussing, being hit by the Moon, or even having it miss slightly, was not an option.

[Derek Smith]

Kccv23highliftcam said:

This is a good one indeed.

As Farmyard Pants [btw brilliant handle] and Eric rightly pointed out [in plain English] the moon is already captured by Earths gravitational force, so any gravitational effect on an object in lunar orbit is under the earths effect.

However It must also be balanced under the moons, as otherwise it would exit stage left, rapido...

The fact that the Moon orbits the Earth, or rather the Moon and the Earth orbit their common centre of gravity, is what started the argument.

This is what I was after:

SCEtoAUX said:

My maths says this:

https://www.mansfieldct.org/Schools/MMS/staff/hand...

Stick 384,000 into that equation and you're looking at about 1/4000th of the Earth's gravity when at an average lunar distance. Insignificant compared to that which the moon would exert if you were stood on it.

Thank you for that.

By the way, in my Googling I discovered that an object in a near Earth orbit would have circa 9/10ths of full gravity.

No help to me, but interesting.