Calculate the force of gravity on earth of an object that has a mass of 200 kg.

Question

Calculate the force of gravity on earth of an object that has a mass of 200 kg?

 A. 20 N     C. 326 N

B.123 N      D. 1,962 N

Answer 1

Hello Amber,

In a nutshell, Newton's second law states that force is equal to mass*acceleration, F=ma.  The SI unit of mass is the kilogram (kg), and the SI units of acceleration are meter/second squared  (m/s^2).  If we multiply kg (m/s^2), we get kg m/s^2 which equals the newton, N.

F=ma=200 kg (9.81 m/s^2), where 9.81 m/s^2 is the acceleration of gravity on earth

  =1962 kg m/s^2=1962 N

Choice D is correct.

Randall