| Date | May 2010 | Marks available | 1 | Reference code | 10M.1.SL.TZ1.19 |
| Level | Standard level | Paper | Paper 1 | Time zone | Time zone 1 |
| Command term | Question number | 19 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
The weight of an object of mass 1 kg at the surface of Mars is about 4 N. The radius of Mars is about half the radius of Earth. Which of the following is the best estimate of the ratio below?
\[\frac{{{\text{mass of Mars}}}}{{{\text{mass of Earth}}}}\]
A. 0.1
B. 0.2
C. 5
D. 10
Markscheme
A
Examiners report
The inverse square law means that halving the radius of a planet results in quadrupling the gravitational field strength at its surface.
