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Mars has a mass 1/10 that of earth and a diameter 1/2 that of earth

1 Answer

1 vote

Answer: D.
4 m/s^(2)

Step-by-step explanation:

The question is incomplete, please remember to write the whole question. However, the the complete question is as follows:

Mars has a mass 1/10 that of Earth and a diameter 1/2 that of Earth. The acceleration of a falling body body near the surface of Mars is most nearly:

A.
0.25 m/s^(2)

B.
0.5 m/s^(2)

C.
2 m/s^(2)

D.
4 m/s^(2)

E.
25 m/s^(2)

Let's begin by the fact that on Earth, the gravity force
F_(g) that acts on a falling object is given by:


F_(g)=mg_(E)=(Gm_(E)m)/(r_(E)^(2)) (1)

Where:


m is the mass of the falling body


m_(E)=5.972(10)^(24) kg is the mass of the Earth


g_(E) is the acceleration due gravity on Earth


G=6.67(10)^(-11) Nm^(2)/kg^(2) is the Universal Gravitational constant


r_(E)=(d_(E))/(2)=6371000m is the Earth's radius and
d_(E)=12742000 m is its diameter

Simplifying (1) we have:


g_(E)=(Gm_(E))/(r_(E)^(2)) (2)


g_(E)=(G m_(E))/(((d_(E))/(2))^(2)) (3)

Now, in the case of Mars we have:


g_(M)=(G m_(M))/(((d_(M))/(2))^(2)) (4)

Where:


m_(M)=(1)/(10)m_(E)


d_(M)=(1)/(2)d_(E)

Substituting these on (4):


g_(M)=(G (1)/(10)m_(E))/((((1)/(2)d_(E))/(2))^(2)) (5)

Simplifying:


g_(M)=(8)/(5) (G m_(E))/(d_(E)^(2)) (6)

Then:


g_(M)=(8)/(5) ((6.67(10)^(-11) Nm^(2)/kg^(2))(5.972(10)^(24) kg))/((12742000 m))^(2)} (7)

Finally:


g_(M)=3.92 m/s^(2) \approx 4 m/s^(2) This is most nearly the acceleration of a falling body near the surface of Mars

User Gargo
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