To determine the correct statements about the space probes on planets X and Y, we need to understand the concepts of mass and weight.
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Mass: It is a measure of the amount of matter in an object and remains constant regardless of location. Hence, the mass of the space probes will not change based on the planet they're on. They have identical probes, so the mass of the space probe is the same on both planets.
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Weight: Weight is the force exerted by gravity on an object. It can be calculated using the formula:
\[ \text{Weight} = \text{mass} \times \text{gravitational acceleration} (g) \]
The gravitational acceleration on a planet is affected by its mass and radius. Since planet X has twice the mass of planet Y and they have identical volumes, planet X will have greater density and, therefore, a stronger gravitational pull. As a result, the gravitational acceleration (g) on planet X will be greater than that on planet Y.
Given these points, the following statements can be evaluated:
- The mass of the space probes on both planets is the same.
- The weight of the space probe on planet X will be greater than the weight of the space probe on planet Y because of the higher gravitational acceleration due to the greater mass of planet X.
Conclusion
The correct statement from your options is:
The weight of the space probe on planet X will be greater than the weight of the space probe on planet Y.
2 answers