Final answer:
The mass of the space rover would be approximately 10300 kg when it lands on Mars.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mass of an object does not change when it moves from one place to another; only weight changes. Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object, whereas weight is the force of gravity acting on an object.
To find the mass of the space rover when it lands on Mars, we need to use the concept of weight. Weight equals mass multiplied by the acceleration due to gravity (W = mg). On Earth, the acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.8 m/s², while on Mars it is 3.71 m/s².
We can use the formula W = mg to find the weight of the space rover on Earth. Given that the mass of the space rover is 3900 kg, the weight is W = 3900 kg × 9.8 m/s² = 38220 N.
Now, to find the mass of the space rover on Mars, we can rearrange the formula: mass = weight ÷ acceleration due to gravity. Thus, the mass on Mars is mass = 38220 N ÷ 3.71 m/s² ≈ 10300 kg.