Which of the following best describes the strength of the gravitational force on Earth due to your mass?

A) It is zero as long as you are standing on Earth’s
surface.

B) It is much greater than Earth’s gravitational force
on you because Earth’s mass is so great.

C) It is equal to the magnitude of the force that Earth
exerts on you.

D) It is negligible compared to the force of gravity on
you because your mass is so small when compared
to Earth’s mass.

C) It is equal to the magnitude of the force that Earth exerts on you.

The correct answer is:

C) It is equal to the magnitude of the force that Earth exerts on you.

Explanation:

According to Newton's law of universal gravitation, the gravitational force between two objects is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centers.

In this case, the strength of the gravitational force on Earth due to your mass is equal to the magnitude of the force that Earth exerts on you. This means that the force you feel due to Earth's gravity is equal in magnitude to the force Earth feels due to your gravity.

To determine the correct answer, let's break down each option and explain how to arrive at the answer:

A) It is zero as long as you are standing on Earth’s surface.
This option is incorrect. The gravitational force on Earth is not zero when you are on its surface. Otherwise, you wouldn't be pulled down towards the ground.

B) It is much greater than Earth’s gravitational force on you because Earth’s mass is so great.
This option is also incorrect. The gravitational force is mutual, meaning that Earth's gravitational force on you and your gravitational force on Earth are equal in magnitude.

C) It is equal to the magnitude of the force that Earth exerts on you.
This is the correct answer. As mentioned earlier, the gravitational force is mutual. The force that Earth exerts on you is equal in magnitude to the force you exert on Earth, as described by Newton's third law of motion.

D) It is negligible compared to the force of gravity on you because your mass is so small when compared to Earth’s mass.
This option is incorrect. While it is true that Earth's mass is significantly larger than yours, the force of gravity is based on the masses of both objects, not just on Earth's mass alone. So, the gravitational force on you is not negligible.

Therefore, option C) is the best description.