Question

An astronaut visits another planet which has less gravitational acceleration than the earth. While on that planet, the astronaut will notice that his:

• A. weight is less and his mass is greater
• B. weight is the same and his mass is the same
• C. weight is less and his mass is the same
• D. weight is the same and his mass is less
• E. weight is less and his mass is less

Answer 1

The correct option is C weight is less and his mass is the same

We know that mass of a body does not depend upon gravitational acceleration on a planet , therefore it will remain constant on other planet.

Now, weight of a body of mass $m$ on a planet is given by ,

$W=m{g}_p$ ,

where $g_p$ is gravitational acceleration on this planet.

The earth's gravitational acceleration is $g=9.8m/s^2$

As the value of $g_p$ on other planet is lesser than that on earth ($g_p<g$), therefore weight of astronaut will decrease due to relation

$W\propto g_p$ .