Question

Marissa designs a robot that goes on a mission to Mars. The acceleration of gravity on Mars is 3.7 m/s^2. the robot has a mass of 18 kg.

a. How does the mass of the robot change once it gets to Mars? Explain

b. How does the weight of the robot change once it gets to Mars? Explain

Answer 1

a) The amount of molecules, details, wires etc. in the robot hasn't changed, so the mass does not change.

b) Weight is mass times g, so since the mass hasn't changed and the acceleration of gravity is smaller on Mars, the weight will decrease there.

Answer 2

Mass on Mars = 18 kg (remain same as on earth ) and

Weight on Mars = 66.6 Newtons (Decreases as compared to weight on earth)

Step-by-step explanation:

(a)

>Since mass is the intrinsic property of any object it will not change at any place and remain constant irrespective of planet where it is measured .

>Mass is the quantity of matter in a body regardless of its volume or of any forces acting on it. The term should not be confused with weight, which is the measure of the force of gravity acting on a body .

Thus the mass of the robot on the earth and Mars will be same and is equal to 18 kg . (remain constant)

(b)

Weight is the measure of the force of gravity applied on the object(robot in this case) by the given planet (Mars in this case) .

=> Weight (W)= Mass(m)x Acceleration due to gravity of Mars(
`g_(Mars)` )

=>
`W_(Mars)`= m
`g_(Mars)` = (18x3.7) N = 66.6 Newtons

While on earth the value of acceleration due to gravity is
`g_(earth)` =9.8
`(m)/(s^(2))`

So weight on earth is
`W_(earth)` = (18x9.8) N= 176.4 Newtons

Thus the weight of robot will decrease on Mars as compared to weight on earth .