Two experiments are conducted are conducted to determine the mass of an object. In Experiment 1, the object's weight is measured by using an electronic balance once the object has been placed at rest on the balance. In Experiment 2, the object is pulled along a horizontal surface with a spring scale such that the force reading on the spring scale remains constant while a motion detector is used to measure the instantaneous speed of the object as it is pulled. All frictional forces for both experiments are considered to be negligible. Which of the two experiments, if either, could be used to determine the gravitational mass of the object?

Question

Social Studies

Cynthia Zuniga

22 July, 15:03

Two experiments are conducted are conducted to determine the mass of an object. In Experiment 1, the object's weight is measured by using an electronic balance once the object has been placed at rest on the balance. In Experiment 2, the object is pulled along a horizontal surface with a spring scale such that the force reading on the spring scale remains constant while a motion detector is used to measure the instantaneous speed of the object as it is pulled. All frictional forces for both experiments are considered to be negligible. Which of the two experiments, if either, could be used to determine the gravitational mass of the object?

+5

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Eddie Thompson · Answer 1

Experiment 1 could be used to check the gravitational mass of an object.

Explanation:

Gravitational mass can be described as the strength which the gravitational force has on an object when it is present in the gravitational force. An object at rest will experience only the gravitational force. Whereas an object that is pulled along a horizontal surface with a spring scale will have other forces acting on it along with the gravitational force.

To check for the gravitational mass, an object should only have a gravitational force acting upon it. Hence, experiment 1 is the correct option.