On Earth vs Moon, how do mass and weight change?

On Earth vs Moon, how do mass and weight change?

• A. Mass remains the same; weight changes with the gravitational field strength
• B. Mass changes with gravity; weight constant
• C. Mass increases on Moon; weight the same
• D. Mass decreases on Moon; weight increases

Answer: (B)

Mass is the amount of matter in an object, and it stays the same wherever you are. Weight is the gravitational force on that mass, so it depends on how strong gravity is in that location. On Earth, gravity is stronger, so the weight is larger. On the Moon, gravity is weaker, so the same mass weighs less. The mass doesn’t change—example: a 60-kilogram mass is still 60 kilograms on the Moon, even though its weight is much smaller there because the Moon’s gravity is weaker. In formula terms, weight equals mass times gravity, so changing gravity changes weight but not mass.

Mass is the amount of matter in an object, and it stays the same wherever you are. Weight is the gravitational force on that mass, so it depends on how strong gravity is in that location. On Earth, gravity is stronger, so the weight is larger. On the Moon, gravity is weaker, so the same mass weighs less. The mass doesn’t change—example: a 60-kilogram mass is still 60 kilograms on the Moon, even though its weight is much smaller there because the Moon’s gravity is weaker. In formula terms, weight equals mass times gravity, so changing gravity changes weight but not mass.