# What is the acceleration due to gravity on this asteroid?

1. Sep 10, 2007

### azila

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
An astronaut's pack weighs 15.3 N when she is on earth but only 3.05 N when she is at the surface of an asteroid.

a. What is the acceleration due to gravity on this asteroid?

B. what is the mass of the pack on the asteroid?

2. Relevant equations
ok, I know I have to you F=ma; but I am stuck after that. I know my mass which is 3.05 N but what is my force?

3. The attempt at a solution

I tried, but i have two unknowns, I do not what the force is or what the acceleration which is what I am trying to calculate. I know I am missing something or I am overlooking something. Please help if you can. Thanks

2. Sep 10, 2007

### neutrino

You have it mixed up. Force is measured in Newtons, while mass is measured in Kilograms.

You are right in saying that you have to use F = ma. What is the value of 'a' on the surface of the (perfectly spherical) Earth?

3. Sep 10, 2007

### SnipedYou

Well you could do it like this: $$\frac{15.3}{3.05} = \frac{9.8}{x}$$ I just rounded everything off and found that $$x = 1.95$$

Last edited: Sep 10, 2007
4. Sep 10, 2007

### azila

thank you so much. Yeah, I was mixed up about the mass and force units. So thanks.

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