Question

The moon's radius is 1/4 that of the earth
and its mass is 1/80 times that of the
earth. If g represents the acceleration due
to gravity on the surface of the earth, that
on the surface of the moon is
(a) g/4
(b)g/5
(c) 9/6
(d) g/8​

Answer 1

Explanation:

GIVEN

We are given that the radius of the moon is 1/4th of that of the Earth and the mass of the moon is 1/80 times that of the Earth.

Let M and R be the mass and radius of the Earth and g be the value of acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the Earth

TO FIND

The value of acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the moon with respect to the value of acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the Earth (g)

FORMULA USED

The formula for acceleration due to gravity is given by

g = G M/ R^2

where G is the universal gravitation constant and its value is 6.67 × 10^-11 Nm^2/kg^2

SOLUTION

g = G M /R^2

==> g = G × (1/80)M / (1/4)R^2

==> g(on moon) = g/5

ANSWER

The answer to this question is (b) g/5