Question

which of the following claims is best supported by the text?
the mass of an object depends on weight.
scales are inaccurate because they do not measure change in mass.
without gravity, there would not be a force to hold people on the ground.
gravity pulls people outward while weight pulls people downward.

Explanation:

• Analyze each option:
• Option 1: Mass is an intrinsic property, weight depends on mass and gravity ($W = mg$), so mass doesn't depend on weight. Eliminate.
• Option 2: Scales measure weight (force due to gravity), not necessarily inaccurate for their purpose. Eliminate.
• Option 3: Gravity is the force that keeps people on the ground (provides the normal force - related concept). Without gravity, there'd be no such force. This is consistent with physics concepts.
• Option 4: Gravity pulls downward (toward the center of the Earth), weight is the force of gravity on an object, so this description is incorrect. Eliminate.

Answer:

C. Without gravity, there would not be a force to hold people on the ground.