ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)General Science (GS)Medium
A satellite orbits Earth at an altitude where gravitational force is 1/4th of what it is on the surface. If an object weighs 100 N on Earth's surface, what would its weight be at this altitude?
- A100 N
- B50 N
- C400 N
- D25 N
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. 25 N
Weight is a measure of the gravitational force acting on an object (Weight = mass × gravitational acceleration). If the gravitational force is 1/4th, then the weight will also be 1/4th of its surface weight. So, 100 N × (1/4) = 25 N.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Weight would only be 100 N if the gravitational force was the same as on the surface.
- B. This would be if the force was half, not a quarter.
- C. This would be if the gravitational force was 4 times stronger, not 1/4th.
Weight and Gravitational Force
Weight is the force exerted on an object due to gravity, and it changes with the strength of the gravitational field.
- Weight = mass × gravitational acceleration (g).
- Gravitational force decreases with distance from the center of a planet.
- Mass is an intrinsic property and remains constant.
Memory trick: Gravity's grip dictates the scale's flip.