Multiple Choice
The acceleration due to gravity is approximately . Why does the unit second appear twice in the denominator?
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8. Centripetal Forces & Gravitation
Acceleration Due to Gravity
Multiple Choice
Which of the following is closest to the acceleration due to gravity on the surface of Pluto?
A
B
C
D
Verified step by step guidance1
Recall that the acceleration due to gravity on the surface of a celestial body is given by the formula \(g = \frac{G M}{R^2}\), where \(G\) is the universal gravitational constant, \(M\) is the mass of the body, and \(R\) is its radius.
Find the known values for Pluto's mass (\(M_{Pluto}\)) and radius (\(R_{Pluto}\)). These values are typically available in physics or astronomy reference materials.
Substitute Pluto's mass and radius into the formula: \(g_{Pluto} = \frac{G M_{Pluto}}{R_{Pluto}^2}\).
Calculate the value of \(g_{Pluto}\) by performing the division and multiplication as indicated, keeping track of units to ensure the result is in meters per second squared (\(m/s^2\)).
Compare the calculated acceleration due to gravity on Pluto with the given options to determine which value is closest.
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