Question
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Why does the moon have less gravity than Earth?
Why does the moon have less gravity than Earth?
Ask by Lambert Nguyen. in the United States
Dec 11,2024
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Answer
The moon has less gravity than Earth because it is smaller and has less mass, resulting in a weaker gravitational pull.
Solution
The moon has less gravity than Earth primarily due to its smaller mass and size. Gravity is a force that depends on two main factors: the mass of an object and the distance from its center.
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Mass: The moon’s mass is about 1/81 that of Earth. Since gravity is directly proportional to mass, a smaller mass results in a weaker gravitational pull.
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Size: The moon’s smaller radius means that the distance from its center to its surface is less than that of Earth, but this effect is outweighed by its lower mass.
As a result, the gravitational force on the moon is about 1/6th that of Earth’s gravity. This is why objects weigh significantly less on the moon than they do on Earth.
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The moon has less gravity than Earth primarily due to its smaller mass. Gravity is directly proportional to the mass of an object; Earth, being much larger, exerts a stronger gravitational pull. In fact, the moon’s gravitational force is about one-sixth that of Earth’s, which means if you weigh 180 pounds on Earth, you’d weigh just 30 pounds on the moon!
This difference in gravity also means that the moon has a weaker atmosphere and can’t hold onto gases like Earth does. So, while Earth’s thicker atmosphere supports life, the moon is left barren, with just a thin layer of particles. Imagine hopping around on the moon—it’s like bouncing on a trampoline!
