If an object has a mass of 20 kg, what's the force of gravity acting on it on Earth?
A. 2.04 kg
B. 196 N
C. 32.67 N
D. 1.96 kg
Answer (2)
The force of gravity acting on an object with a mass of 20 kg on Earth is 196 N, calculated using the formula F = m g , where g is approximately 9.8 m/s². This matches option B from the choices given.
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The problem asks to calculate the force of gravity on an object with a mass of 20 kg on Earth.
Use the formula F = m g , where m is the mass and g is the acceleration due to gravity ( 9.8 m/s 2 on Earth).
Substitute the given values: F = 20 × 9.8 = 196 N.
The force of gravity acting on the object is 196 N .
Explanation
Problem Analysis We are given an object with a mass of 20 kg and asked to find the force of gravity acting on it on Earth.
Formula and Given Values The force of gravity ( F ) acting on an object is given by the formula: F = m g where m is the mass of the object and g is the acceleration due to gravity. On Earth, the acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.8 m/s 2 .
Calculation We are given that the mass m = 20 kg. Plugging this value and the value of g into the formula, we get: F = 20 kg × 9.8 m/s 2 F = 196 N Therefore, the force of gravity acting on the object is 196 N.
Final Answer The force of gravity acting on the object is 196 N, which corresponds to option B.
Examples
Understanding the force of gravity is crucial in many real-world applications. For example, engineers need to calculate gravitational forces when designing bridges and buildings to ensure structural stability. Similarly, when planning space missions, scientists must accurately predict the gravitational forces acting on spacecraft to navigate them correctly. Even in everyday activities like weighing objects or understanding why things fall, the concept of gravity plays a fundamental role.
