Question

If one moves from the surface of earth to moon, what will be the effect on its weight?

• A. Weight of a person decreases continuously with height from the surface of earth
• B. Weight of a person increases with height from the surface of earth
• C. Weight of a person first decreases with height and then increases with height from the surface of earth
• D. Weight of a person first increases with height and then decreases with height from the surface of earth

Answer 1

The correct option is C

Weight of a person first decreases with height and then increases with height from the surface of earth

Step 1: Given data

A person is moving from the surface of earth to surface of moon.

We have to find how the weight changes

Step 2: Explanation

We know, acceleration due to gravity at a height h above the surface of earth is given by $g\text{'}=g\left(1-\frac{2h}{R}\right)$

From the equation, it is understandable that acceleration due to gravity decreases as we move away from the surface of earth.

Similarly acceleration due to gravity of moon is maximum on the surface of moon and decreases when we move away from it.

Since weight,

$$\begin{gathered} W=mg \\ W\propto g \end{gathered}$$

weight is directly proportional to acceleration due to gravity.

Therefore, when a person moves from the surface of earth to the surface of moon, the weight decreases at first and then increases.

Hence, option C is correct.