could you estimate the mass of the entire earth? How? If we cannot direct measure the earth's mass, how was it determined?
Easy. Take a known mass, say 1 kilogram.
put it on a scale, and weight it. It ought to weigh 9.8Newtons.
But this is the force of gravity:
F=GMe*1kg/radiusearth^2
solve for Me
To estimate the mass of the entire Earth, there are a few approaches that scientists have used. One of the most common methods involves measuring the gravitational pull between the Earth and other objects around it, like the Moon or satellites.
Here's how it works:
1. Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation states that the gravitational force between two objects is proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This means that if we know the gravitational force between the Earth and another object, we can use that information to estimate the Earth's mass.
2. By observing the motion of the Moon or satellites around the Earth, scientists can measure the gravitational force acting on them. This can be done by analyzing their orbital paths, velocities, and acceleration.
3. With these measurements, scientists can then apply Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation and solve for the Earth's mass. By comparing the known masses of the Moon or satellites to their observed gravitational forces, they can establish the mass of the Earth.
It's important to note that while this method gives an accurate estimate of the Earth's mass, it does not provide an exact measurement. est However, by using multiple measurements and refining the calculations, scientists have determined that the mass of the Earth is approximately 5.97 x 10^24 kilograms.
This method is just one example of how scientists indirectly estimate the mass of celestial bodies when direct measurement is not possible. Other techniques, such as determining the Earth's mass through seismic measurements or analyzing the gravitational effects on objects on Earth's surface, have also been utilized to corroborate these estimates.