The Force Exerted on the Moon Figure 5-27 shows the Earth, Moon, and Sun (not to scale) in...

The Force Exerted on the Moon Figure 5-27 shows the Earth, Moon, and Sun (not to scale) in their relative positions at the time when the Moon is in its third-quarter phase. Though few people realize it, the force exerted on the Moon by the Sun is actually greater than the force exerted on the Moon by the Earth. In fact, the force exerted on the Moon by the Sun has a magnitude of FSM = 4.34 × 1020 N, whereas the force exerted by the Earth has a magnitude of only Fem = 1.98 × 1020 N. These forces are indicated to scale in Figure 5-28. Find (a) the direction and (b) the magnitude of the net force acting on the Moon. (c) Given that the mass of the Moon is MM = 7.35 × 1022 kg, find the magnitude of its acceleration at the time of the third-quarter phase.

Figure 5-28