Question

Your task is the compare the surface gravitational acceleration of four planets to that of Earth.

• Earth has mass M_E and radius R_E
• Planet A has mass M_A = 3M_Eand radius R_A = 2R_E
• Planet B has mass M_B = M_E/3 and radius R_B = R_E/2
• Planet C has mass M_C = M_E/6 and radius R_C = R_E/3
• Planet D has mass M_D = 2M_E and radius R_D = 2R_E

Which of the planets has the greatest surface gravitational acceleration?

Answer 1

Gravitational acceleration is given by

For Planet Earth,

For Planet A ,   

For Planet B ,   

For Planet C ,   

For Planet D ,   

So Planet C have largest surface gravitational acceleration