A 2.6 kg mass weighs 25.74 N on the surface of a planet similar to Earth. The radius of this planet is roughly 7.3 * 106 m. Calculate the mass of of this planet. The value of the universal gravitational constant is 6.67259 * 10-11 N · m2 / kg2

Answer: 79.0 x 10²³ kg

Explanation:

The weight of any mass, is given by the value of the attractive force that the mass of the planet exerts on it, and is given by the Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation:

Fg = G m Mp / rp²

If Fg = 25.74 N, we can solve for Mp, as follows:

Mp = Fg. rp² / G m = 25.74 N. (7.3 10⁶) ² m² / 6.67259. 10⁻¹¹ N. m² / kg². 2.6 kg

Mp = 79.0 x 10²³ kg.