The mass of Mars is and its mean radius is

PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Fields and their consequences · Fields and their consequences

Problem

The mass of Mars is 6.42×1023 kg6.42\times10^{23}\,\text{kg} and its mean radius is 3.39×106 m3.39\times10^{6}\,\text{m}. Take the value of the universal gravitational constant as 6.67×10−11 N m2/kg26.67\times10^{-11}\,\text{N\,m}^2\text{/kg}^2 and Earth’s surface acceleration due to gravity as 9.8 m/s29.8\,\text{m/s}^2. Answer the following: (a) Calculate the magnitude of the acceleration due to gravity on the surface of Mars. (b) Express the result of part (a) as a fraction of Earth’s surface gravity. (c) Determine the weight of an astronaut of mass 60 kg60\,\text{kg} when standing on the Martian surface.

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