Question

Question 129(ii)

The table shows the mass of the planets, the Sun and the Moon in our solar system.



Order the planets and the Moon by mass, from least to greatest.

Answer 1

Mass of each planet and Moon in scientific notation is given below.
Using law of exponents, $a^m\times a^n=a^{m+n}$
We can compare the mass of each planet by making the powers of base 10 same in each planet.

$\text{Sun}=1.99\times {10}^{30}=199000000\times {10}^{22}\text{Mercury}=3.3\times {10}^{23}=33\times {10}^{22}\text{Venus}=4.87\times {10}^{24}=487\times {10}^{22}\text{Earth}=5.97\times {10}^{24}=597\times {10}^{22}\text{Mars}=6.42\times {10}^{29}=64200000\times {10}^{22}\text{Jupiter}=1.9\times {10}^{27}=190000\times {10}^{22}\text{Saturn}=5.68\times {10}^{26}=56800\times {10}^{22}\text{Uranus}=8.68\times {10}^{25}=8680\times {10}^{22}\text{Neptune}=1.02\times {10}^{26}=10200\times {10}^{22}\text{Pluto}=1.27\times {10}^{22}\text{Moon}=7.95\times {10}^{22}$

Therefore, the order of mass of all planets and Moon from least to greatest is :

Pluto < Moon < Mercury < Venus < Earth < Uranus < Neptune < Saturn < Jupiter < Mars