In general, astronomical objects are not exactly electrically neutral. Suppose the Earth and the Moon each carry a charge of -1.00 x 106 C (this is approximately correct; a more precise value is identified in a later chapter).
(a) Compare the resulting electrostatic repulsion with the gravitational attraction between the Moon and the Earth. (The mass of the Earth is 5.97 x 1024 kg, the mass of the Moon is 7.36 x 1022 kg, and the distance between the Earth and the Moon is 3.84 x 108 m.)
(b) What effects does this electrostatic force have on the size, shape, and stability of the Moon's orbit around the Earth?