The mass of a planet is determined primarily by what method?
A) Measurement of its orbital eccentricity
B) Measurement of its diameter by photography
C) Observation of its gravitational influence on an orbiting moon
D) Measurement of its average temperature by remote sensing

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The mass of a planet is primarily determined by observing its gravitational influence on other objects, such as an orbiting moon. This is because the gravitational force between two objects depends on their masses and the distance between them, allowing scientists to use the observed gravitational effects to calculate the mass of the planet. The other options listed are not effective methods for determining a planet's mass.

The Mass of a Planet Is Determined Primarily by What