Question

Approximate mass of the Earth is:

• A. \( 5.97 \times 10^{24} \) kg
• B. \( 5.97 \times 10^{24} \) tonnes
• C. \( 5.97 \times 10^{24} \) N
• D. \( 5.97 \times 10^{24} \) kN

Hint:

Mass is always expressed in kilograms in SI units. Newton is a unit of force, not mass.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The approximate mass of the Earth is measured in kilograms, which is a standard unit of mass. Among the given options, we need to attribute the measure that correctly corresponds to the Earth's mass. The options include measurements in kilograms, tonnes, newtons, and kilonewtons. The scientific consensus states that the Earth's mass is approximately \(5.97 \times 10^{24}\) kilograms. Thus, the appropriate choice is:

\(5.97 \times 10^{24}\) kg

This is because:

• Kilograms (kg) are a fundamental unit of mass in the International System of Units (SI), used widely to represent large masses such as that of celestial bodies.
• Tonnes: Though also a unit of mass, \(1 \, \text{tonne} = 1,000 \, \text{kg}\), meaning \(5.97 \times 10^{24} \, \text{tonnes}\) would be an incorrect representation.
• Newtons (N): This is a unit of force, not mass. Force can be calculated by multiplying mass by gravitational acceleration, but it's not suitable for directly stating mass.
• Kilonewtons (kN): Similarly, this is an inappropriate unit for stating mass as it denotes force.

Therefore, the correct answer categorizing the Earth's mass appropriately is \(5.97 \times 10^{24}\) kg.