Question

The weight of the body on earth is $60 N$. Its weight on moon will be:
A. $360N$
B. $60N$
C. $10N$
D. $16N$

Answer 1

Mass of the body is a constant quantity and the acceleration due to the gravitational force on the moon is equal to approximately six times the acceleration due to the gravitational force on earth.

Complete step by step answer:
From the given question, we know that the weight of the body on earth is,
${W_e} = 60\;{\rm{kg}}$.

We know that the weight of a body on earth is equal to the product of mass of the body and acceleration due to gravity (gravitational force on earth).
${W_e} = m{g_e}$
We know that the value of acceleration due to gravity (gravitational force on earth) is $9.8\;{\rm{m/}}{{\rm{s}}^{\rm{2}}}$
Since we know that the mass is a constant quantity. It does not depend on the location of it.

Substitute the given values in the above equation, we get,
$60 = m{g_e}$
$\Rightarrow m = \dfrac{{60}}{{9.8}}\;{\rm{kg}}$
The acceleration due to the gravitational force on the moon is equal to approximately six times the acceleration due to the gravitational force on earth.
${g_m} = 6{g_e}$

The weight of the body on the moon is expressed as,.
${W_m} = m{g_m}$
Rewrite the above equation,
${W_m} = m\left( {\dfrac{6}{{{g_e}}}} \right)$
Substitute the values and expression in the above equation, we have,
${W_m} = \dfrac{{60}}{{9.8}}\left( {\dfrac{{9.8}}{6}} \right)\\\ \therefore{W_m} = 10\;{\rm{N}}$
Thus, the weight of the body on moon is 10 N and option C is correct.

Note: Always remember that mass of the body is the property of a matter and it is a constant quantity and it does not depend on the location of it. Mass cannot be zero and it has only magnitude so it is a scalar quantity. Its SI unit is kg. While weight is the product of mass and acceleration due to gravitational force. It does depend on the location of it. Since every planet has their own gravitational force so the weight of the body is different from different planets or satellites. It can be zero.