Answer :
The astronaut would weigh around 169 pounds 300 miles above the Earth's surface using the formula for gravitational force based on distance from the Earth's center.
The gravitational force experienced by an object is determined by the mass of the object and its distance from the center of the Earth. The formula that describes this is F = GMm/r².
where F is the force, G is the gravitational constant, M is the mass of one object (the Earth in this case), m is the mass of the other object (the astronaut), and r is the distance from the center of the Earth.
At the surface of the Earth, we can see F₁ = GMm/R₁², where F₁ is 195 pounds (the astronaut's weight on the surface), and R₁ is the earth's radius (4000 miles).
Above the Earth, we have F₂ = GMm/R₂², where F₂ is the astronaut's weight 300 miles above the surface, R₂ = R₁ + 300 miles.
By dividing the second equation by the first, we can cancel out the G, M, and m constants, getting F₂/F₁ = (R₁/R₂)². Inserting for F₁ = 195 pounds, R₁ = 4000 miles, and R₂ = 4300 miles, we see that F₂ = 195 * (4000/4300)², which approximately equals 169 pounds. So, the astronaut would weigh around 169 pounds 300 miles above the Earth's surface.
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