An astronaut orbits the earth in a space capsule whose height above the earth is equal to the earth's radius. How does the mass of the astronaut in the capsule compare to her mass on the earth?
A)Her mass is equal to her mass on earth.
B)Her mass is approximately equal to one-fourth her mass on earth.
C)Her mass is approximately equal to one-half of her mass on earth.
D)Her mass is approximately equal to one-third of her mass on earth.
E)Her mass is approximately equal to one-sixteenth her mass on earth.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The astronaut's mass is the same in orbit as it is on Earth. Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object, and it does not change with location.

An Astronaut Orbits the Earth in a Space Capsule Whose