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Which equation is used to calculate the weight of an object on a planet?

a. w = mg
b. w = mG
c. w = m/9
d. w = m/g

User Serrano
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The equation to calculate the weight of an object on a planet is w = mg, where 'w' is weight, 'm' is mass, and 'g' is the acceleration due to gravity. On Earth, g is approximately 9.80 m/s², and the weight of a 1.0 kg object would be 9.8 N.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct equation to calculate the weight of an object on a planet is w = mg, where w represents the weight of the object, m is the mass of the object, and g is the acceleration due to gravity, which varies between different celestial bodies. On Earth, the acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.80 m/s². Therefore, the weight of a 1.0-kg object on Earth is calculated as follows:

w = m × g

= (1.0 kg) × (9.80 m/s²)

= 9.8 N.

It is important to note that while g can take positive or negative values in a coordinate system, weight is typically a scalar quantity with a magnitude, and so the value of the acceleration due to gravity is taken to be positive when calculating weight.

User Deirdra
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