What does 3 times 10 to the 5th power kilograms represent? Lexy used the formula shown to calculate the force of gravity on a space shuttle. cap f sub g is equal to cap g the fraction with numerator open paren 3 times 10 to the 5th power kilograms close paren times open paren 6 times 10 to the 24th power kilograms close paren and denominator open bracket open paren 6 point 4 times 10 to the 6th power m close paren plus open paren 1 point 8 times 10 to the 5th power m close paren close bracket squared
Answer
A
the mass of the space shuttle
B
the mass of Earth
C
the sum of Earth’s mass and the space shuttle’s mass
D
the difference between Earth’s mass and the space shuttle’s mass
Explanation
In the gravitational-force formula, the two quantities multiplied together are the masses of the two objects. Earth’s mass is shown as 6 × 10²⁴ kilograms, so 3 × 10⁵ kilograms represents the space shuttle’s mass. The distance terms in the denominator are added and then squared; they are not masses.
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