Final answer:
Among the listed objects, a dime is closest in weight to 1 newton. To determine this, the formula for weight (w = mg) is used, remembering that 1 newton roughly equals the weight of an object with a mass of 102 grams on Earth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The object that weighs approximately 1 newton is an object with a mass of about 100 grams on Earth, given that Earth's gravity is about 9.8 meters per second squared. The weight of an object can be calculated using the formula w = mg, where w is the weight in newtons, m is the mass in kilograms, and g is the acceleration due to gravity. On Earth, an object of 1 kilogram weighs about 9.8 newtons. Therefore, to find an object that weighs about 1 newton, we would look for an object with a mass about 1/10th of a kilogram, since 0.102 kg × 9.8 m/s² equals 1 newton. A paper clip weighs less than this (not 1 newton), a physics student much more (not 1 newton), and a golf cart significantly more (not 1 newton). While the weight of a dime is not exactly 1 newton, it is the closest to the correct answer among the options provided. Therefore, the dime would likely be the best answer if we are to choose one from the list.