The planet Jupiter is more than 300 times as massive as Earth, so it might seem that a body on the surface of Jupiter would weigh 300 times as much as on Earth. But it so happens that a body would scarcely weigh 3 times as much on the surface of Jupiter as it would on the surface of Earth. Can you think of an explanation for why this is so? (Hint: Let the terms in the equation for gravitational force guide your thinking.)

Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations and Connections
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Chapter7: Gravity
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Problem 37PQ: The Sun has a mass of approximately 1.99 1030 kg. a. Given that the Earth is on average about 1.50 ...
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The planet Jupiter is more than 300 times as massive as Earth, so it might seem that a body on the surface of Jupiter would weigh 300 times as much as on Earth. But it so happens that a body would scarcely weigh 3 times as much on the surface of Jupiter as it would on the surface of Earth. Can you think of an explanation for why this is so? (Hint: Let the terms in the equation for gravitational force guide your thinking.)

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