An astronaut aboard the international space station, which is orbiting at an altitude of 4.00 x 105 m above the earth's surface, has a gravitational potential energy of 2.94 x 106 j. what is the weight of the astronaut when he returns to the earth's surface

The weight of the astronaut is 0.4802  N.

Explanation:

Gravitational potential energy,

Distance above earth,

The gravitational potential energy is given by :

G is universal gravitational constant

M is the mass of Earth,

m is mass of astronaut

R is the radius of earth, R = R + d

m = 0.049 kg

The weight of the astronaut is given by :

W = mg

W = 0.4802  N

So, the weight of the astronaut when he returns to the earth surface is 0.4802 N. Hence, this is the required solution.