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An object has a weight of 10 kg on the surface of Earth. If the same object were transported to the surface of Mars, the object would have a weight of 3.8 kg. Which best explains why the weight of the object changed when transported from Earth to Mars?

a) The density of the object is greater on Earth than it is on Mars.
b) The volume of the object is greater on Earth than it is on Mars.
c) Gravitational force is greater on Earth than it is on Mars.
d) Atmospheric pressure is less on Earth than it is on Mars.

User BharathRao
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Final answer:

The weight of an object changes from Earth to Mars due to the difference in gravitational force on each planet; Earth has a stronger gravitational pull, hence an object weighs more here than on Mars.

Step-by-step explanation:

The weight of an object changes when transported from Earth to Mars primarily because of the difference in gravitational force between the two planets. The correct answer to why the weight of the object changed is c) Gravitational force is greater on Earth than it is on Mars. Weight is the force exerted on a mass by gravity, and it is calculated by multiplying mass by the acceleration due to gravity. Earth's gravity is about 9.80 m/s², while Mars' gravity is only about 3.71 m/s². Therefore, an object will weigh less on Mars, despite having the same mass. It's important to note that the density and volume of the object do not change during transport between planets. The atmospheric pressure difference between Earth and Mars does not affect an object's weight directly, but rather the buoyant forces, which are generally negligible for solid objects.

User Jobrocol
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