College

If an object has a mass of 20 kg, what's the force of gravity acting on it on Earth?



A. 196 N

B. 1.96 kg

C. 2.04 kg

D. 32.67 N

Answer :

- The problem asks to calculate the force of gravity on a 20 kg object on Earth.
- Use the formula $F = mg$, where $m = 20 kg$ and $g = 9.81 m/s^2$.
- Calculate $F = 20 kg \times 9.81 m/s^2 = 196.2 N$.
- The closest answer among the options is $\boxed{196 N}$.

### Explanation
1. Understanding the Problem
We are given an object with a mass of 20 kg and asked to find the force of gravity acting on it on Earth. The force of gravity can be calculated using the formula $F = mg$, where $F$ is the force of gravity, $m$ is the mass of the object, and $g$ is the acceleration due to gravity on Earth.

2. Identifying Given Values
The acceleration due to gravity on Earth is approximately $9.81 m/s^2$. We are given that the mass of the object is $m = 20 kg$.

3. Applying the Formula
Now, we can substitute the given values into the formula: $F = (20 kg) \times (9.81 m/s^2)$.

4. Calculating the Force
Calculating the force, we get $F = 196.2 N$.

5. Selecting the Best Answer
Comparing our calculated force with the given options, we see that option A, 196 N, is the closest to our calculated value.

6. Final Answer
Therefore, the force of gravity acting on the object on Earth is approximately 196 N.

### Examples
Understanding the force of gravity is crucial in many real-world applications. For example, engineers need to calculate gravitational forces when designing bridges and buildings to ensure structural stability. Similarly, understanding gravity is essential in fields like aerospace engineering for calculating trajectories of satellites and rockets. Even in everyday life, knowing how gravity affects objects helps us understand why things fall and how much force is needed to lift or move them.