Question

If the mass of a body is 9.8 kg on the earth, what would be its mass on the moon? ​

Answer 1

Mass is a scalar quantity. It is a fundamental physical quantity. The mass of a particle is constant everywhere. Thus, the mass will remain same. That is, 9.8 kg.

What if we are said to find it's weight?

We are given that,

Mass of the body (at any place) = 9.8 kg

∵ W = mg,

∴ $W_e = mg_e$

Acceleration due to gravity = 9.8 m/s²

∴ $W_e = (9.8 \ ms^{-2})(9.8 \ kg)$

⇒ $W_e = 960.4 N$.

We know,

$\frac{1}{6} W_e = W_m$

∴ $W_m = \frac{1}{6} \times 960.4 N$

⇒ $W_m ≈ 161 N$.

Therefore, weight of the object at moon is approximately 161 N.