Question

The gravitational acceleration on the moon is about one-sixth the size of the gravitational acceleration on Earth. According to Newton’s second law of motion, what happens to an astronaut who goes to the moon? The astronaut’s weight decreases because the moon’s gravitational acceleration is greater than Earth’s. The astronaut’s weight increases because the moon’s gravitational acceleration is greater than Earth’s. The astronaut’s weight decreases because the moon’s gravitational acceleration is less than Earth’s. The astronaut’s weight increases because the moon’s gravitational acceleration is less than Earth’s.

Answer 1

Answer: If the gravitacional acceleration is 1/6 of Earth's gravitational acceleration, it means that moon's gravitational acceleration is less than Earth's. Also, if the gravitational acceleration is less than Earth's, the astronaut's weight decreases since we calculate it multiplying his body mass by the gravity in the place given.

On Earth, an astronaut that is 70kg weights 70kg * 9.8 m/s² = 686N

On the Moon, the same astronaut would weight 70kg * 9.8 m/s² * 1/6 = 114,3 N

So, the astronaut’s weight decreases because the moon’s gravitational acceleration is less than Earth’s.