True mass, different weights, and the force of gravity

AI Thread Summary
An astronaut's weight on a new planet, which has 2.5 times the mass and 1.2 times the radius of Earth, would read 103.4 kg on the scale due to the planet's stronger gravitational pull of 16.9 N/kg. The calculation for the astronaut's weight involved using the gravitational force equation F=mg/r^2. The scale at home accurately reflects the astronaut's true mass of 60.0 kg because it measures weight and converts it to mass based on Earth's gravity. The confusion arises from the distinction between weight and mass, as scales measure weight, not mass directly. Thus, the scale on Earth provides the true mass, while the scale on the new planet does not.
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Homework Statement


An astronaut enters a rocket ship and gets blasted to another planet. The mass of the planet is 2.5 times as large as the mass of Earth, and the radius is 1.2 times as large as Earth's. If the astronauts scale at home says "60.0kg", what will it say on the new planet? In which case does the scale display his true mass and why?


Homework Equations


F=mg/r^2


The Attempt at a Solution


i was able to find the weight of the astronaut on the new planet without any problems:
m(planet)= m(earth) x 2.5
m(planet)= 1.48x10^25 kg

r(planet)= r(earth) x 1.2
r(planet)= 7.65x10^6m

find mass of astronaut:
F=Gm/r^2
g=Gm/r^2
= (6.67x10^-11)(5.97x10^24)/ (6.38x10^6)^2
=9.8N/kg
m= 60.0kg/ 9.8N/kg
m=6.12N

g= Gm/r^2
= (6.67x10^-11)(1.49x10^25)/ (7.65x10^6)^2
= 16.9 N/kg

W=mg
= (6.12N)(16.9 N/kg)
Therefore the atronaut would read 103.4kg on the scale while on the new planet.

For the second part of the question I'm just a little confussed. It asks which scale displays his true mass, but a scale doesn't display mass, it displays weight. Is this part a trick question?
 
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I would say the scale shows the true mass on earth. In fact, it measures weight, but from the measured weight, it calculated the mass and shows it. But it works only on earth.
 
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