Do people weigh less on the Moon?

Question

Probably yes, if you consider that weight equals mass times the force of gravity.

However, I mean weight in common sense (or in the sense of mass).

At first, it seems to me that the mass is always constant, regardless of where we are.

But if we took a scale to the Moon, wouldn't the pull of gravity also influence the value that was marked on the scale?

For example, if I weigh 55kg on Earth, would I weigh the same on the Moon?

So, would the value marked on the scale be less than 55 kg?

Answer 1

Okay I know it's been said before but It needs to be repeated because some people are providing bad information.

Your weight is a vector measurement of force, which means it accounts for mass and acceleration in this case acceleration due to gravity, and although it's often over looked has both a magnitude and direction.

Gravity on the moon is about 1/6 the gravity on earth so you weight will be about 1/6 what it is here on earth.

Mass is a scalar measurement only and does not account for forces. So you mass would be a constant.

As for scales...

A traditional beam scale would show you the same mass in both locations because it measures mass by using counter weights which are also affected by the local gravity.

Other scales use deflection either, plates or springs, to measure weight, which would definitely be affected by gravity, since it is truly measuring weight and not mass.

Answer 2

The mass of an object remains the same, no matter where it is. Mass is a measure of the amount of material present. Weight, however, is a function of the force of gravity. The pull of gravity on the Moon is about 1/6 that on Earth, so someone who weighs 120 lb on Earth would weigh only 20 lb on the Moon. He would still have the same strength, however, so he could throw a ball 6 times as high or as far, for example.

A bathroom or other spring scale taken to the Moon would register the correct weight, i.e., 1/6 of that registered on Earth. The force on the scale is in direct proportion to the weight of the object on it, not the mass. A balance scale, however, would not work properly because the weight of the balancing mass would also be 1/6 of that on Earth. While the correct scientific units of weight differ from those of mass, we commonly use mass units for both, because ordinary people seldom weigh things in space or on other planets or satellites.

Answer 3

Kilograms still measure weight in common usage, even though yes, it is a measurement of mass.

So mass, a composition of matter assembled absent any force, remains constant.

"Weight" is mass multiplied by velocity, i.e., active gravitational mass. This is the number that differs between Earth and its moon.

On Earth, your 55kg "weighs" 55kg. On the moon, it weighs (55/6)kgs even though the mass remains at 55kg. The force acting on it is less (less gravitational force, less velocity, etc.)

In other words, if 160000 feathers equalled a ton on Earth, you'd still have 160000 feathers on the moon, it would just be easier to load into your lunar lander.

-R

Answer 4

No, a balance scale used to measure mass will read the same on the moon as on earth. A pressure scale like the one in your bathroom will only work for measuring mass on earth. Otherwise it measures weight.
Your correct that weight changes based on gravity but your mass will not.

Answer 5

mass is the same - it's a reflection of how much matter is in your body, which is the same in both places.

weight is a function of gravity, and since the earth is more massive than the moon, you would weigh less on the moon.

put another way - if you stand on the same scale on the moon and on the earth, the scale would read that you weighed more on the earth and less on the moon.

your weight on the moon is about 1/6 of your weight on earth, so if a scale says you weigh 55kg on earth, it would say you weighed 55kg/6 = 9.167kg on the moon.

Answer 6

No. You would weigh less on the moon. A scale typically measures the amount of force you exert on it. Weight is a type of force, and total net force is equal to mass times acceleration. Since acceleration on the moon is less than that of Earth due to gravity, you would get a different result. By calculation, you would weigh 9.1 kg on the moon.

Answer 7

Yes ppl Weigh 1/6 of their mass on moon

Answer 8

I see the problem and it is the difference between weight and mass. Weight is a force. You are right that if you took a pan balance to the moon and some weights and you got on the left hand pan and you added weights on the right hand pan, then your weight would be the same. But that is because the weights are now labeled wrongly. They should only be 1/6 of what they are on Earth. That is why you won't see weight written on a set of weights only mass. Weght depends on where you are. A one pound weight is missleading. A pound is a unit of force. Scientists used to say "pound-force" to make it clearer. The unit of mass is called the SLUG. So you are really giving your mass when you say you are "150 pounds" in the wrong unit. You should be so many slugs. But since we rarely leave earth, we just use weight in pounds. On earth I believe you get slugs by dividing pound force by 32. Just like you get kg by dividing Newtons by 9.8.

Answer 9

it relatively is exceedingly lots it. The greater advantageous the mass, the greater advantageous the gravity. Gravity pulls on us, and that pull is felt by making use of the size. people who weigh greater have a much better pull, and the size registers that. whilst they circulate to the moon, the moon pulls much less, so they weigh much less.

Answer 10

55kg as a MASS, is 55kg anywhere outside Earth.
The Scientists, in all their wisdom, now say that MASS is not WEIGHT and that weight is 'MASS (kg) x the Force of Gravity of the Earth (9.81m/s²)'.
If you say to your friend that you weigh 55kg, science says that you are wrong and you tell your friend that you weigh 539.6 Newtons (N) (i.e 55 x 9.81) .....Your friend will think you've gone nuts..!!

(On the moon your mass will be 55kg, but, your weight is 539.6 ÷ 6 = 90 N...(The moon's gravity is 1/6th that of earth).