The gravitational strength on Earth is greater than the gravitational strength on Mars. Which statement is correct?
a) The weight of an object will be greater on Earth than Mars.
b) The weight of an object will be greater on Mars than Earth.
c) The mass of an object will be greater on Earth than Mars.
d) The mass of an object will be greater on Mars than Earth.
a) The weight of an object will be greater on Earth than Mars.
The correct statement is:
a) The weight of an object will be greater on Earth than Mars.
To determine the correct statement, let's first understand the difference between weight and mass and how they are related to gravitational strength.
Weight refers to the force exerted on an object due to gravity and is measured in newtons (N). Weight depends on both the mass of an object and the acceleration due to gravity. The formula for calculating weight is:
Weight = mass x acceleration due to gravity
Mass, on the other hand, refers to the amount of matter in an object and is measured in kilograms (kg). Mass remains constant regardless of the gravitational field it is in. In other words, mass is an intrinsic property of an object.
The gravitational strength, also known as the acceleration due to gravity, varies between different celestial bodies. On Earth, the acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.8 m/s², while on Mars, it is approximately 3.7 m/s². This means that the gravitational strength on Earth is greater than on Mars.
Now let's examine the given options:
a) The weight of an object will be greater on Earth than Mars.
This statement is correct. Since the gravitational strength on Earth is greater, an object will experience a greater force of gravity, resulting in a greater weight.
b) The weight of an object will be greater on Mars than Earth.
This statement is incorrect. As mentioned earlier, the gravitational strength on Mars is lower than on Earth. Therefore, an object will experience a smaller force of gravity and a lower weight on Mars compared to Earth.
c) The mass of an object will be greater on Earth than Mars.
This statement is irrelevant to the given information. Mass refers to the quantity of matter in an object, and it remains constant regardless of the gravitational field. So, the mass of an object will not change whether it is on Earth or Mars.
d) The mass of an object will be greater on Mars than Earth.
This statement is irrelevant to the given information. As explained earlier, mass is an intrinsic property of an object and does not change with the gravitational field.
Therefore, the correct statement is a) The weight of an object will be greater on Earth than Mars.