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The mean diameters of Mars and Earth are \(6.9 \times 10^{3} \mathrm{~km}\) and \(1.3 \times 10^{4} \mathrm{~km}\), respectively. The mass of Mars is \(0.11\) times Earth's mass. (a) What is the ratio of the mean density (mass per unit volume) of Mars to that of Earth? (b) What is the value of the gravitational acceleration on Mars? (c) What is the escape speed on Mars?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The density ratio is approximately 0.71. Gravitational acceleration on Mars is about 3.7 m/s². The escape speed is around 5.0 km/s.

Step by step solution

01

Calculate the Volume of Mars and Earth

The volume of a sphere is given by the formula \(V = \frac{4}{3}\pi r^3\), where \(r\) is the radius. First, calculate the radius of Mars and Earth from their diameters:\[r_{\text{Mars}} = \frac{6.9 \times 10^3}{2} = 3.45 \times 10^3 \, \text{km}\] \[r_{\text{Earth}} = \frac{1.3 \times 10^4}{2} = 6.5 \times 10^3 \, \text{km}\] Now, calculate the volumes:\[V_{\text{Mars}} = \frac{4}{3}\pi (3.45 \times 10^3)^3\] \[V_{\text{Earth}} = \frac{4}{3}\pi (6.5 \times 10^3)^3\]
02

Calculate the Mass and Density of Mars and Earth

Assume Earth's mass is \(M_{\text{Earth}}\). The mass of Mars is given by \(M_{\text{Mars}} = 0.11 \times M_{\text{Earth}}\). The density \(\rho\) is mass per unit volume, \(\rho = \frac{M}{V}\). Now, calculate the density:\[\rho_{\text{Mars}} = \frac{M_{\text{Mars}}}{V_{\text{Mars}}} = \frac{0.11 \times M_{\text{Earth}}}{V_{\text{Mars}}}\] \[\rho_{\text{Earth}} = \frac{M_{\text{Earth}}}{V_{\text{Earth}}}\]
03

Calculate Density Ratio

The ratio of the density of Mars to Earth's density is:\[\frac{\rho_{\text{Mars}}}{\rho_{\text{Earth}}} = \frac{0.11 \times M_{\text{Earth}} / V_{\text{Mars}}}{M_{\text{Earth}} / V_{\text{Earth}}} = 0.11 \times \frac{V_{\text{Earth}}}{V_{\text{Mars}}}\] Substitute the volumes from Step 1 to find this ratio.
04

Calculate Gravitational Acceleration on Mars

Gravitational acceleration \(g\) is given by \(g = \frac{G M}{r^2}\), where \(G\) is the gravitational constant. For Mars:\[g_{\text{Mars}} = \frac{G \times M_{\text{Mars}}}{r_{\text{Mars}}^2}\] Substitute \(M_{\text{Mars}} = 0.11 \times M_{\text{Earth}}\) and calculate \(g_{\text{Mars}}\), knowing that Earth's gravitational acceleration \(g_{\text{Earth}} = 9.8\, \text{m/s}^2\).
05

Calculate Escape Speed on Mars

Escape speed \(v_{\text{esc}}\) is given by \(v_{\text{esc}} = \sqrt{\frac{2 G M}{r}}\). For Mars, substitute for \(M_{\text{Mars}}\) and \(r_{\text{Mars}}\) to find:\[v_{\text{esc, Mars}} = \sqrt{\frac{2 G \times 0.11 M_{\text{Earth}}}{r_{\text{Mars}}}}\] Calculate \(v_{\text{esc, Mars}}\), using the radius calculated in Step 1.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Density Calculation
Calculating density is essential in planetary physics to understand the distribution of mass within a celestial body. In simple terms, density is the mass of an object divided by its volume. In the case of Mars and Earth, we can compare their densities to understand their structural differences.
The formula for density \(\rho\) is given by:
  • \(\rho = \frac{M}{V}\)
Where \(M\) represents mass and \(V\) is volume.To find the density of a planet, we first calculate its volume. For a sphere, volume \(V\) is calculated using the formula:
  • \(V = \frac{4}{3}\pi r^3\)
Where \(r\) is the radius. Once the volume is known, density can be determined by substituting the planet's mass into the density formula. For Mars, knowing its relationship to Earth's mass allows us to compute its density by comparing it to Earth's known quantities. The comparison provides insight into differences in core composition and structure between Mars and Earth.
Gravitational Acceleration
Gravitational acceleration is the force that determines how fast objects fall towards a planet's surface. It's crucial for understanding the behavior of planets in their orbits and for planning travel between them. For Mars, calculating its gravitational acceleration helps us determine what a visitor would experience compared to Earth.
The formula for gravitational acceleration \(g\) is:
  • \(g = \frac{G M}{r^2}\)
Here, \(G\) stands for the gravitational constant, \(M\) is the mass of the planet, and \(r\) is its radius.
Using this formula, we see that gravitational acceleration depends on both the mass of the planet and the distance from its center. As Mars has less mass than Earth, the gravitational pull is weaker. By knowing the ratio of Mars's mass to Earth's, we can substitute into the formula to find the gravitational acceleration on Mars. This step helps visualize how much easier it is to jump on Mars compared to Earth.
Escape Speed
Escape speed is the minimum velocity required to break free from a planet's gravitational pull. It’s vital for understanding space travel and how rockets achieve orbit. Calculating the escape speed for Mars shows us how different factors like mass and radius influence this velocity.
The formula for escape speed \(v_{\text{esc}}\) is:
  • \(v_{\text{esc}} = \sqrt{\frac{2 G M}{r}}\)
Where \(G\) is the gravitational constant, \(M\) is the mass of the planet, and \(r\) is the radius from which escape is attempted. Substituting the given values for Mars, including its mass relative to Earth, lets us calculate the escape speed unique to Mars. This speed is lower than Earth's due to Mars's smaller mass and radius, making it easier for spacecraft to leave Martian gravity. Understanding escape speed is crucial to planning missions and ensuring rockets have enough fuel to return to their journey's origin.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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