On the moon the gravitational acceleration is approximately...

Name: Problem 37, Chapter 2: Fundamentals of Thermodynamics
Uploaded: 2020-07-17T09:28:48-08:00
Duration: 2 min 40 s
Channel: Sophie S
Description: On the moon the gravitational acceleration is approximately one-sixth that on the surface of the earth. A 5 -kg mass is "veeighed" with a beam balance on the surface of the moon. What is the expected reading? If this mass is weighed with a spring scale that reads correctly for standard gravity on earth (see Problem 2.27 ), what is the reading?

On the moon the gravitational acceleration is approximately one-sixth that on the surface of the earth. A 5 -kg mass is "veeighed" with a beam balance on the surface of the moon. What is the expected reading? If this mass is weighed with a spring scale that reads correctly for standard gravity on earth (see Problem 2.27 ), what is the reading?

Key Concepts

Beam Balance

A beam balance is an instrument used to compare masses by balancing the gravitational forces acting on them. Since both sides of the balance experience the same gravitational acceleration, the instrument effectively measures mass directly, regardless of local gravity.

Gravitational Acceleration

Gravitational acceleration is the rate at which objects accelerate due to the force of gravity. This value can differ significantly from one celestial body to another—on the Moon, for example, it is much lower than on Earth—which directly affects an object's weight.

Spring Scale

A spring scale measures the weight of an object by the amount a spring is extended under the force of gravity. This reading depends on the local gravitational acceleration, so if the scale is calibrated for Earth’s gravity, it will give a lower reading in an environment with weaker gravity, even though the object's mass is unchanged.

Mass

Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object and remains constant regardless of the local gravitational field strength. It is an intrinsic property of the object, meaning that it does not change whether the object is on Earth, the Moon, or in space.

Weight

Weight is the force exerted on a mass by gravity. Unlike mass, weight depends on the local gravitational acceleration; thus, an object will weigh less in a region with lower gravitational acceleration, even though its mass remains the same.

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