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You can't measure the mass of Earth directly, as others have stated. You can calculate it knowing:

  • The value of $g$, the gravitational acceleration (approximately $9.8 m/s$$9.8\ \mathrm{m/s}$)
  • The value of $R_e$$R_\mathrm e$, the radius of the Earth (approximately $6378.1 km$$6378.1\ \mathrm{km}$)
  • The value of $G$, the gravitational constant (approximately $6.67×10^{-11} N m^2/kg^2$$6.67\times10^{-11}\ \mathrm{N\ m^2/kg^2}$)

and solving the following equation:

$mg = \frac{GM_em}{R_e^2}$$$mg = \frac{GM_\mathrm em}{R_\mathrm e^2}$$ or $M_e = \frac{g R_e^2}{G}$$$M_\mathrm e = \frac{g R_\mathrm e^2}{G}$$

Now:

  • to measure $g$ you can use a pendulum - this can be done at home.
  • to measure $R_e$$R_\mathrm e$ the simplest experiment is Eratosthenes' experiment - this cannot be done at home
  • to measure $G$ you need to use a Cavendish balance - which cannot be done at home because it's a notoriously difficult experiment (the constant is really small, requires custom apparatus, a very long time, etc.).

You can't measure the mass of Earth directly, as others have stated. You can calculate it knowing:

  • The value of $g$, the gravitational acceleration (approximately $9.8 m/s$)
  • The value of $R_e$, the radius of the Earth (approximately $6378.1 km$)
  • The value of $G$, the gravitational constant (approximately $6.67×10^{-11} N m^2/kg^2$)

and solving the following equation:

$mg = \frac{GM_em}{R_e^2}$ or $M_e = \frac{g R_e^2}{G}$

Now:

  • to measure $g$ you can use a pendulum - this can be done at home.
  • to measure $R_e$ the simplest experiment is Eratosthenes' experiment - this cannot be done at home
  • to measure $G$ you need to use a Cavendish balance - which cannot be done at home because it's a notoriously difficult experiment (the constant is really small, requires custom apparatus, a very long time, etc.).

You can't measure the mass of Earth directly, as others have stated. You can calculate it knowing:

  • The value of $g$, the gravitational acceleration (approximately $9.8\ \mathrm{m/s}$)
  • The value of $R_\mathrm e$, the radius of the Earth (approximately $6378.1\ \mathrm{km}$)
  • The value of $G$, the gravitational constant (approximately $6.67\times10^{-11}\ \mathrm{N\ m^2/kg^2}$)

and solving the following equation:

$$mg = \frac{GM_\mathrm em}{R_\mathrm e^2}$$ or $$M_\mathrm e = \frac{g R_\mathrm e^2}{G}$$

Now:

  • to measure $g$ you can use a pendulum this can be done at home.
  • to measure $R_\mathrm e$ the simplest experiment is Eratosthenes' experiment this cannot be done at home
  • to measure $G$ you need to use a Cavendish balance which cannot be done at home because it's a notoriously difficult experiment (the constant is really small, requires custom apparatus, a very long time, etc.).
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Sklivvz
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You can't measure the mass of Earth directly, as others have stated. You can calculate it knowing:

  • The value of $g$, the gravitational acceleration (approximately $9.8 m/s$)
  • The value of $R_e$, the radius of the Earth (approximately $6378.1 km$)
  • The value of $G$, the gravitational constant (approximately $6.67×10^{-11} N m^2/kg^2$)

and solving the following equation:

$mg = \frac{GM_em}{R_e^2}$ or $M_e = \frac{g R_e^2}{G}$

Now:

  • to measure $g$ you can use a pendulum - this can be done at home.
  • to measure $R_e$ the simplest experiment is Eratosthenes' experiment - this cannot be done at home
  • to measure $G$ you need to use a Cavendish balance - which cannotcannot be done at home because it's a notoriously difficult experiment (the constant is really small, requires custom apparatus, a very long time, etc.).

You can't measure the mass of Earth directly, as others have stated. You can calculate it knowing:

  • The value of $g$, the gravitational acceleration (approximately $9.8 m/s$)
  • The value of $R_e$, the radius of the Earth (approximately $6378.1 km$)
  • The value of $G$, the gravitational constant (approximately $6.67×10^{-11} N m^2/kg^2$)

and solving the following equation:

$mg = \frac{GM_em}{R_e^2}$ or $M_e = \frac{g R_e^2}{G}$

Now:

  • to measure $g$ you can use a pendulum - this can be done at home.
  • to measure $R_e$ the simplest experiment is Eratosthenes' experiment - this cannot be done at home
  • to measure $G$ you need to use a Cavendish balance - which cannot be done at home because it's a notoriously difficult experiment (the constant is really small, requires custom apparatus, a very long time, etc.).

You can't measure the mass of Earth directly, as others have stated. You can calculate it knowing:

  • The value of $g$, the gravitational acceleration (approximately $9.8 m/s$)
  • The value of $R_e$, the radius of the Earth (approximately $6378.1 km$)
  • The value of $G$, the gravitational constant (approximately $6.67×10^{-11} N m^2/kg^2$)

and solving the following equation:

$mg = \frac{GM_em}{R_e^2}$ or $M_e = \frac{g R_e^2}{G}$

Now:

  • to measure $g$ you can use a pendulum - this can be done at home.
  • to measure $R_e$ the simplest experiment is Eratosthenes' experiment - this cannot be done at home
  • to measure $G$ you need to use a Cavendish balance - which cannot be done at home because it's a notoriously difficult experiment (the constant is really small, requires custom apparatus, a very long time, etc.).
Source Link
Sklivvz
  • 13.7k
  • 7
  • 65
  • 87

You can't measure the mass of Earth directly, as others have stated. You can calculate it knowing:

  • The value of $g$, the gravitational acceleration (approximately $9.8 m/s$)
  • The value of $R_e$, the radius of the Earth (approximately $6378.1 km$)
  • The value of $G$, the gravitational constant (approximately $6.67×10^{-11} N m^2/kg^2$)

and solving the following equation:

$mg = \frac{GM_em}{R_e^2}$ or $M_e = \frac{g R_e^2}{G}$

Now:

  • to measure $g$ you can use a pendulum - this can be done at home.
  • to measure $R_e$ the simplest experiment is Eratosthenes' experiment - this cannot be done at home
  • to measure $G$ you need to use a Cavendish balance - which cannot be done at home because it's a notoriously difficult experiment (the constant is really small, requires custom apparatus, a very long time, etc.).