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 shuttle to its bottom.
D) Push on the mouse with a known force and measure its acceleration.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a state of free fall, traditional weighing methods like scales won't work due to the lack of gravity. Instead, using Newton's second law (F=ma), they can push the mouse with a known force and measure its acceleration to calculate its mass.

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