Unveiling the Weight
Discrepancy: Understanding Mass and Gravity
Introduction: Weight and mass are
often misunderstood concepts, especially when considering different celestial
bodies like the Earth and the Moon. Let's delve into a scenario that challenges
our understanding of weight and mass.
- Understanding
the Difference:
- Mass
refers to the amount of matter in an object, measured in kilograms (kg).
- Weight,
on the other hand, is the force exerted on an object due to gravity and
is measured in newtons (N).
- The
Lunar Challenge:
- When
an object with a mass of 10 kg is taken to the Moon's surface, its mass
remains the same, as mass is an intrinsic property of the object and
doesn't change with location.
- Weight
on Earth vs. Moon:
- On
the surface of the Earth, the object with a mass of 10 kg experiences a
gravitational force of approximately 9.8 N/kg, resulting in a weight of
98 N.
- However,
the Moon has weaker gravity compared to Earth, exerting only about 1/6th
of the gravitational force. Therefore, the same object would weigh
significantly less on the Moon.
- Calculating
the Weight on the Moon:
- Using
the equation: Weight = Mass × Acceleration due to gravity
- Weight
= 10 kg × 1.6 N/kg (approximately) [Acceleration due to gravity on the
Moon is about 1.6 N/kg]
- The
calculated weight on the Moon is approximately 16 N.
- Answering
the Question:
- The
correct answer is option (3) 60 N.
Conclusion: Understanding the
difference between mass and weight is crucial for comprehending how objects
interact with gravity on different celestial bodies. Despite having the same
mass, an object's weight can vary depending on the strength of the
gravitational field, as demonstrated by the scenario of an object on the Moon's
surface.
- What
is the fundamental difference between mass and weight? (a) Mass is the
force exerted on an object due to gravity, while weight is the amount of
matter in an object. (b) Mass is measured in newtons (N), while weight is
measured in kilograms (kg). (c) Mass is an intrinsic property of an object
and remains constant, while weight varies depending on the gravitational
field. (d) Mass and weight are interchangeable terms describing the same
physical quantity.
Correct answer: (c) Mass is an
intrinsic property of an object and remains constant, while weight varies
depending on the gravitational field.
- How
does the weight of an object change when taken from Earth to the Moon? (a)
The weight increases. (b) The weight decreases. (c) The weight remains the
same. (d) The weight doubles.
Correct answer: (b) The weight
decreases.
- Which
physical quantity is measured in newtons (N)? (a) Mass (b) Weight (c)
Volume (d) Density
Correct answer: (b) Weight
- What
is the gravitational acceleration on the Moon compared to that on Earth?
(a) The gravitational acceleration on the Moon is greater than that on
Earth. (b) The gravitational acceleration on the Moon is the same as that
on Earth. (c) The gravitational acceleration on the Moon is about 1/6th of
that on Earth. (d) The gravitational acceleration on the Moon is about 6
times that on Earth.
Correct answer: (c) The
gravitational acceleration on the Moon is about 1/6th of that on Earth.
- Which
equation can be used to calculate weight? (a) Weight = Mass × Volume (b)
Weight = Mass × Acceleration due to gravity (c) Weight = Density × Volume
(d) Weight = Mass × Velocity
Correct answer: (b) Weight =
Mass × Acceleration due to gravity
