Question

Mars has twice the mass of Mercury and is 4 times further away from the Sun. Calculate theratio of the gravitational force from the Sun on Mercury to the gravitational force from the Sunon Mars.

Answer 1

Answer:

F(Mars) = 2 G m M / (4 R)^2   force of Sun on Mars

F(Merc) = G m M / R^2    force of force of Sun on Mercury

R = distance of Sun from Mercury, m = mass of Mercury

F(Merc) / F(Mars) = 4^2 / 2 = 8