A 10.0 kilogram mass of iron on earth exerts a downward force of 98 Newtons. On the moon this same 10.0 kilograms of iron is weighed and found to exert a downward force of 16.3 Newtons. How is this possible?

Question

Physics

Delacruz

3 July, 13:19

A 10.0 kilogram mass of iron on earth exerts a downward force of 98 Newtons. On the moon this same 10.0 kilograms of iron is weighed and found to exert a downward force of 16.3 Newtons. How is this possible?

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Isabell Hill · Answer 1

Weight = mass * gravitational force/acceleration

The gravitational force depends on the mass of the source, such that greater the mass of source, more is the gravitational force by it. In this case, earth has a much greater mass than moon, such that its gravitational pull will also be greater than that of moon. Hence, the weight of 10 kg mass of iron on earth is considerably greater than its weight on moon due to less gravitational force applied by moon on mass of iron.