Question

The acceleration due to gravity at the surface of the planet depends on the _______ and the _______ of the planet.

• A. mass
• B. radius

Answer 1

1. It is stated that each particle in the universe attracts every other particle with a force that is directly proportional to the product of their masses and it is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the center of the masses.
2. The falling of an apple from a tree toward the ground is an example of Newton's law of gravitation.
3. Acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the planet is given below

$$\begin{gathered} \Rightarrow g=\frac{GM}{r^2} \\ \Rightarrow g\propto M \\ \Rightarrow g\propto \frac{1}{r^2} \end{gathered}$$

4. Thus, the value of g depends upon the mass, size, and density of the planet. The value of g is also depending upon the position of the body.

Hence, the acceleration due to gravity at the surface of the planet depends on the mass and the radius of the planet.