Answer:
the point between Earth and the Moon where the gravitational pulls of Earth and Moon are equal is E)3.45 × 10⁸ m
Explanation:
The force that the Earth exerts on a mass m is
F_e = (G M_e m) / R_e²
where
The force that the Moon exerts on a mass m is
F_m = (G M_m m) / R_m²
where
Therefore, the point where the gravitational pulls of Earth and Moon are equal is:
F_e = F_m
R_e + R_m = R = 3.84×10⁸ m
Thus,
(G M_e m) / R_e² = (G M_m m) / R_m²
M_e / R_e² = M_m / (R - R_e²)
(R - R_e²) / R_e² = M_m / M_e
(R - R_e) / R_e = (M_m / M_e)^1/2
R_e(R/R_e -1) / R_e = (M_m / M_e)^1/2
R/ R_e = (M_m / M_e)^1/2 + 1
R_e = R / [(M_m / M_e)^1/2 + 1]
R_e = (3.84×10⁸ m) / [(7.35 x 10²² kg / 5.97 x 10²⁴ kg )^1/2 + 1]
R_e = 3.45 × 10⁸ m
Therefore, the point between Earth and the Moon where the gravitational pulls of Earth and Moon are equal is 3.45 × 10⁸ m.