Question

1. Define acceleration due to gravity.
2. Calculate the value of acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the moon. (Given: Mass of the moon $=7.4\times {10}^{22}kg$; Radius of the moon =$1740km$; $G=6.7\times {10}^{-11}N{m}^{2}k{g}^{-2}$)

Answer 1

Part(1)

1. The acceleration gained by an object because of gravitational force is called its acceleration due to gravity.
2. The value of acceleration due to gravity due to the earth is $g=9.8m{s}^{-2}$.

Part(2)

Step 1: Given

Gravitational constant, $G=6.7\times {10}^{-11}N{m}^{2}k{g}^{-2}$

Mass of the moon, $M=7.4\times {10}^{22}kg$

Radius of the moon, $R=1740km=1740\times {10}^{3}m$

Let $g$ be the acceleration due to gravity on the surface of moon

Step 2: Formula used

$g=G\times \frac{M}{R^2}$

Step 3: Finding the acceleration due to gravity

Putting all the values

$g=\frac{6.7\times {10}^{-11}\times 7.4\times {10}^{22}}{(1740\times {10}^3{)}^2}$

$\Rightarrow g=1.63m{s}^{-2}$

Thus, the acceleration due to gravity, g, on the surface of the moon is $1.63m{s}^{-2}$.