Compare the gravity on Earth and the moon.

Answer 1

The gravity on Earth and the moon differs significantly due to their varying masses and sizes. Here are the main comparisons:

1. Mass difference: Earth is much more massive than the moon. The mass of Earth is approximately 5.97 x 10^24 kilograms, whereas the moon's mass is about 7.35 x 10^22 kilograms.

2. Size difference: Earth has a diameter of roughly 12,742 kilometers, while the moon has a diameter of about 3,474 kilometers. Thus, Earth is about 3.7 times larger than the moon.

3. Gravitational force: The gravitational force is determined by the equation F = (G x m1 x m2) / r^2, where F is the gravitational force, G is the gravitational constant, m1 and m2 are the masses, and r is the distance between the two objects.

- On Earth: The acceleration due to gravity on Earth is approximately 9.8 meters per second squared (m/s²).

- On the moon: The acceleration due to gravity on the moon is much weaker, approximately 1.6 m/s². This means objects on the moon weigh about 1/6th of what they would weigh on Earth.

In summary, the gravity on Earth is significantly stronger compared to the moon. This disparity is primarily due to the Earth's greater mass and larger size, resulting in a higher gravitational force.