Question

which describes what happens when you fly 10 km above the earths surface?

a) mass decreases, weight decreases

b) mass decreases, weight increases

c) mass remains constant, weight decreases

d) mass decreases, weight remains constant

Explanation:

1. Understand Mass and Weight:

• Mass is the amount of matter in an object. It is an intrinsic property and does not change with location (like flying above Earth's surface).
• Weight is the force of gravity on an object, calculated as \( W = mg \) (where \( m \) is mass and \( g \) is the acceleration due to gravity).

1. Effect of Altitude on Gravity:

• As altitude (distance from Earth's center) increases, the acceleration due to gravity \( g \) decreases (since gravitational force follows an inverse - square law with distance from the center of the Earth).
• When flying 10 km above Earth's surface, the distance from the Earth's center increases, so \( g \) becomes smaller.

1. Analyze Each Option:

• Option A: Mass does not decrease with altitude, so A is wrong.
• Option B: Mass does not decrease and weight (since \( g \) decreases) should not increase, so B is wrong.
• Option C: Mass is constant (amount of matter doesn't change) and weight decreases (because \( g \) decreases, and \( W = mg \)), so C is correct.
• Option D: Mass does not decrease and weight (due to lower \( g \)) does not remain constant, so D is wrong.

Answer:

C) mass remains constant, weight decreases