Question

On a planet whose radius is 1.2 × 10^7 m, the acceleration due to gravity is 18 m/s^2. What is the mass of the planet?

a) 8.64 × 10^24 kg
b) 1.08 × 10^24 kg
c) 2.40 × 10^24 kg
d) 3.60 × 10^24 kg

Answer 1

The mass of the planet can be found using the formula for acceleration due to gravity. By plugging in the given values, we find that the mass is approximately 2.40 × 10^24 kg.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the mass of the planet, we can use the formula for the acceleration due to gravity:

g = (GM)/R^2

Where g is the acceleration due to gravity, G is the gravitational constant, M is the mass of the planet, and R is the radius of the planet.

First, we need to rearrange the formula:

M = (g * R^2) / G

Plugging in the given values:

M = (18 * (1.2 x 10^7)^2) / (6.67 x 10^-11)

M ≈ 2.40 x 10^24 kg

Therefore, the mass of the planet is option c) 2.40 × 10^24 kg.