Masses of the planets are easiest to determine if:
A)they are terrestrial and the extra size of the planet's disk can be measured.
B)they are jovian and their oblateness can be found.
C)they have natural satellites whose motions can be precisely measured.
D)they are dense and easily deflect the path of passing spacecraft.
E)they move rapidly and their periods are easily measured.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The masses of the planets can be determined most easily if they have natural satellites whose motions can be precisely measured using Kepler's laws of motion. By observing the motions of their natural satellites, parameters like the distance between the planet and the satellite and the orbital period of the satellite can be determined, which can then be used to calculate the mass of the planet. The masses of planets can be determined most accurately by observing the motion of their natural satellites. By carefully observing the motion of a natural satellite, its period, and its distance from the planet, the mass of the planet can be calculated using Kepler's laws of planetary motion. This has been used to determine the masses of planets such as Jupiter and Saturn.

Masses of the Planets Are Easiest to Determine If