How far will a football fly when thrown on the moon?

Answer 1

The moon has gravity and items on the moon experience ballistic motion just like on Earth. The moons gravitational pull is roughly 1/6th of the Earths so it will go roughly 6 times farther than on Earth.

The actual distance would depend on the angle of release and initial velocity.

Earths acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 m/s
Moons acceleration due to gravity 1.62 m/s

Answer 2

Come on guys, consider the question and then try and make some assumptions about what the question seeks and how you can make the answer easier. Assuming that all we're considering here is the decreased effect of gravity, it will go 6 times further.

For this to be the case, the initial kinetic energy, trajectory, etc. would have to be the same. TheseThe lack of atmosphere will have a slight effect, but for all intents and purposes, gravity is the major player. Adding other real life variables, like pressure, is not really meaningful.


A good NFL QB could probably throw it 500 yards.

Answer 3

Brian K is correct. Gravity on the Moon is about 1/6 of Earth. Apollo is wrong because he says the Moon's gravity is 1/8 of Earth. You can easily look this up on wikipedia or wherever and verify that Brian K is right. Of course the lack of air on the Moon would make it go even farther. And of course I am assuming it is thrown at whatever angle gives you the most distance, which would be 45 degrees on the Moon but some other angle on Earth due to air resistance.

Answer 4

The football would probably pop due to the low pressure on the moon, but you could throw a deflated football and in that case you would need to address the variables stated in the answer above mine.

Answer 5

Now that was some funny stuff KevinStud. Also, the ball would probably float right of his grasp and he'd be the first person to fumble on the moon.

Answer 6

I'm no scientist, but I'd have to say that since the gravity on the moon is only 1/5th that of Earth's, the football would fly five times as far on the moon as it would on Earth.

Answer 7

I guess that would depend on who threw it, now, wouldn't it?

If I were to throw the ball, in 1/6th G, I might look like Joe Montana here on Earth -- perhaps a hail mary of 90 yards.

If Peyton Manning were to launch one -- whooo-weee! I'd guesstimate he could toss one ¼ -½ mile!

Answer 8

All the answers are wrong except for Apollo. How far the football will go would depend on how hard you throw it, the force with which it is propelled, and the weight of the football.

Answer 9

6 times further

Answer 10

A lot farther than on Earth. The moon has one eighth the gravity but you also need to take into account air resistance, pressure and how hard the ball was thrown...