Question

What would be the effect on the mass and the weight of an object if the object were taken to a planet with twice the gravity of Earth?

Answer 1

We have to find the change in the mass and the weight of an object when taken to another planet with twice the gravity of Earth. The weight of an object is the product of its mass and acceleration due to gravity. By knowing the brief detail of mass and weight and using the formula of weight we will find the answer.

Complete step by step answer:
We have to find the change in the mass and the weight of an object when taken to another planet with twice the gravity of Earth.
Let us first consider (a) Mass.
Mass is the quantitative measure of inertia. Mass of a substance is always conserved. It always remains the same everywhere.
Hence, it can be concluded that if an object is taken to another place with twice the gravity of Earth then its mass will not change.
Now, let us know in brief about (b) Weight.
Weight of an object is defined as the product of its mass and acceleration due to gravity at that place. It changes when either the mass or acceleration due to gravity or both are changed.
Let the mass of an object on Earth be $m$ and the acceleration due to gravity be $g$.
Then weight $W = mg$.
When it is taken to another place with new gravity $g' = 2g$ and the mass remains the same $m$.
New weight $W' = 2mg = 2W$
Hence when a body is taken to a planet with twice the gravity of Earth the weight becomes twice that of Earth and the mass remains the same.

Note: It must be noted that acceleration due to gravity is caused due to the gravitational pull. It changes at different depths and with different rotational speed. Mass on the other hand is always conserved. However, mass can convert into energy in the field of quantum physics.