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The acceleration due to gravity on the Moon's surface is known to be about one-sixth of the acceleration due to gravity on the Earth.

A rock falls under a gravitational force of 16.3 N on the moon.
Please help me figure out the mass of the rock.

User Toure
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1 Answer

2 votes

Answer:

The mass of the rock is approximately 9.97 kg

Step-by-step explanation:

From the question, we have;

The acceleration due to gravity on the Moon = (1/6) × The acceleration due to gravity on the Earth

The gravitational force under which a rock falls on the Moon = 16.3 N

The acceleration due to gravity on Earth, g ≈ 9.81 m/s²

Therefore, the acceleration due to gravity on the Moon, a = (1/6) × 9.81 m/s² ≈ 1.635 m/s²

The relationship between the force with which the rock falls and the acceleration of the motion resulting in the force is given by the following relationship;

F = m × a

Where;

F = The force = 16.3 N

m = The mass of the object acted on by the force = The mass of the rock

a = The acceleration of the motion of the object = 1.635 m/s²

From F = m × a, we have;

m = F/a

∴ m = 16.3 N/(1.635 m/s²) = 9.96941896 kg

The mass of the rock, m ≈ 9.97 kg.

User Mohamed Salah
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