The best way to measure the mass of a planet is to measure the:
A)gravitational pull of the planet on an orbiting satellite or a nearby spacecraft.
B)speed of the planet in its orbit around the Sun.
C)size and rotational speed of the planet.
D)composition of the planet using spectroscopy.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The gravitational pull of a planet on an orbiting satellite or nearby spacecraft can be used to calculate the planet's mass through Kepler's laws of planetary motion. This method has been used to accurately measure the masses of many planets in our solar system as well as those outside of it.

The Best Way to Measure the Mass of a Planet