The table shows the acceleration due to gravity on four different planets. What planet is a person standing on if the person has a mass of 85.0 kg and weighs 305 N?
Location Accerleration due to gravity (m/s2)
Mercury 3.59
Venus 8.87
Earth 9.81
Mars 3.77
To determine the planet a person is standing on, we can compare their weight (305 N) with the acceleration due to gravity on each planet.
Weight is given by the formula:
Weight = mass * acceleration due to gravity
On each planet, the weight is determined by multiplying the mass (85.0 kg) by the corresponding acceleration due to gravity.
For Mercury, the weight would be:
Weight = 85.0 kg * 3.59 m/s^2 = 305.15 N
For Venus, the weight would be:
Weight = 85.0 kg * 8.87 m/s^2 = 753.95 N
For Earth, the weight would be:
Weight = 85.0 kg * 9.81 m/s^2 = 833.85 N
For Mars, the weight would be:
Weight = 85.0 kg * 3.77 m/s^2 = 320.45 N
Comparing the weights, we can see that the person weighs closest to 305 N on Mars. Thus, the person is standing on Mars.