A spacecraft flies within 500,000 km of each of these planets. Which one would gravitationally attract the spacecraft the most? a Venus b Mars c Jupiter d Neptune
The gravitational force between two objects depends on their masses and the distance between them. Therefore, to determine which planet would gravitationally attract the spacecraft the most, we need to compare the masses of the planets and their distances from the spacecraft.
a) Venus has a mass of 4.867 × 10^24 kg and the spacecraft flies within 500,000 km of it.
b) Mars has a mass of 6.39 × 10^23 kg and the spacecraft flies within 500,000 km of it.
c) Jupiter has a mass of 1.898 × 10^27 kg and the spacecraft flies within 500,000 km of it.
d) Neptune has a mass of 1.024 × 10^26 kg and the spacecraft flies within 500,000 km of it.
Comparing the distances, we notice that they are all extremely close to the spacecraft, and the difference between them is negligible when compared to the distances between the planets themselves.
Therefore, the determining factor here is the mass of the planets. The greater the mass, the stronger the gravitational attraction.
Out of the given options, Jupiter has the highest mass, approximately 1.898 × 10^27 kg. Thus, Jupiter would gravitationally attract the spacecraft the most.