When you hold a textbook and a pencil, why does the textbook feel heavier than the pencil?
A. The textbook has a stronger attraction to Earth.
B. The textbook has less mass than the pencil.
C. You can grip the pencil with more strength.
D. Your hand repels the textbook with less force.
The correct answer is B. The textbook has less mass than the pencil.
The perception of weight is based on the mass of the object. Mass refers to the amount of matter in an object. In this case, the textbook has more mass than the pencil, and therefore it feels heavier when held. The strength of Earth's gravity is the same for both objects, so option A is not correct. Option C and D are not relevant to explaining why the textbook feels heavier.
The weight or perceived heaviness of an object depends on its mass and the force of gravity acting on it. In this case, the textbook feels heavier than the pencil because it has more mass than the pencil (option B). Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object, while weight is the force exerted on an object due to gravity. Both the textbook and the pencil experience the same gravitational force, but the textbook has more mass, so it feels heavier when held. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.
To understand why the textbook feels heavier than the pencil, we need to consider the concepts of mass, gravity, and the forces involved.
The weight of an object is determined by its mass and the force of gravity acting on it. In this scenario, both the textbook and the pencil are subject to the same gravitational force from the Earth. So, the difference in perceived weight is not due to a stronger attraction to Earth (option A).
The textbook feeling heavier can also not be attributed to having less mass (option B) because typically, textbooks are heavier than pencils. Mass is a measure of the amount of matter an object contains, and it directly affects the weight of an object. Generally, a heavier object has more mass.
The relative perceived weight when holding objects is influenced by how we are able to grip or handle them, as well as the forces involved. However, in this case, the options C and D are not relevant to the difference in perceived weight.
Therefore, the correct answer is B. The textbook feels heavier than the pencil because it has more mass, not because of a stronger attraction to Earth, gripping strength, or repulsion from your hand.