Gravity Physics

Question

5. The mass of the planet Mercury is 3.30 x 10^23 kg and its radius is 2.439 x 10^6 m. What would a 65.0 kg person weigh on Mercury? What is the acceleration due to gravity on Mercury? (gravitational constant is 6.67 x 10^-11)

Answer 1

w = GMm/r² = (6.67 x 10^-11)(3.30 x 10²³)(65.0) / (2.439 x 10⁶)² N

 

Weight in Newtons:

 

w = 240.5 N

 

Gravitational acceleration on surface of Mercury:

 

a = (6.67 x 10^-11)(3.30 x 10²³) / (2.439 x 10⁶)² m/s² = 3.70 m/s²