r/Physics•
mokshx

Someone help me find answer

Suppose you are standing on Earth and load your friend into a massive cannon, firing him directly toward the Moon at an initial speed of 1,000 m/s.

The cosmic layout forms a perfect right-angled triangle between you (Earth), the Moon, and the Sun:

* **The Sun** sits precisely at the right angle (90°).

* **You (Earth)** are located at the 53° angle of the triangle.

* **The Moon** is located at the 37° angle of the triangle.

* The total distance from Earth to the Moon is 50,000 m.

**The Rules of the Journey:**

  1. Earth's gravity is a constant 10 m/s².

  2. The Sun's gravity is a constant 100 m/s² and actively pulls on your friend during the entire journey.

  3. The Moon has absolutely zero gravity.

  4. The exact instant your friend touches the Moon, his forward momentum stops, and the Sun immediately sucks him straight down until he reaches it.

**Question:** How many total seconds pass from the moment the cannon is fired until your friend reaches the Sun?

*(Note: In reality, because the Sun pulls sideways while your friend flies toward the Moon, his trajectory will not be a straight line. The lateral gravitational force will deflect him into a curved parabolic path, requiring complex calculus to solve the exact flight time and precise aiming angle).*

Posted Jul 4, 2026, 6:23 PM UTC

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