Weight
Tanusri Gururaj, Academic content writer of Physics at Edumarz
The force which attracts objects towards the Earth.
W = mg
SI unit: Newton (N)
The weight of an object varies from place to place and is measured using a spring balance.
At the center of the Earth, ‘g’ becomes zero and, hence, weight also becomes zero.
Weight of a body on the moon:
Let us assume the following-
m = mass of the body to be measured on the moon
Mm = mass of the moon
Me = mass of the Earth
Rm = radius of the moon
Re = radius of the Earth
Wm = weight of the body with mass ‘m,’ on the moon
We = weight of the body with mass ‘m,’ on the Earth
Wm = G Mm m/Rm2
We = G Me m/Re2
Wm/We = Mm Re2/Me Rm2
Using the following values to calculate Wm/We
Me = 5.98 x 1024
Mm= 7.36 x 1022
Rm = 6.37 x 106
Re = 1.74 x 106
Putting the above values, we get Wm/We = ⅙
Hence the weight of an object on the moon = ⅙ ( weight of the same object on Earth)