In a spaceship orbiting Earth,two astronauts want to measure the mass of a mouse.How can they easily do it if they are in constant free fall?
A) Place the mouse on a spring-loaded scale and weigh it.
B) Measure the gravitational attraction between the mouse and a steel ball of known mass.
C) Drop the mouse from the top of the spaceship to its bottom.
D) Push on the mouse with a known force and measure its acceleration.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a state of constant free fall, traditional weighing methods that rely on gravitational force, like options A and C, won't work because everything is in a state of weightlessness. Option B, measuring gravitational attraction, is theoretically possible but extremely impractical due to the very weak gravitational forces between small objects. Option D is the most feasible, as it applies Newton's second law (F=ma), allowing the astronauts to calculate the mass by applying a known force and measuring the resulting acceleration.

In a Spaceship Orbiting Earth,two Astronauts Want to Measure the Mass