Question

State whether true or false.

The weight of a body on the surface of the moon is $\frac{1}{6}th$ of that on the earth's surface. It is because acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the moon is six times that on the surface of the earth.

• A. True
• B. False

Answer 1

The correct option is B False

Weight of a body on the moon's surface =$F_m$

Weight of a body on the earth's surface = $F_e$

Given that $F_m=\frac{F_e}{6}$ .........(1)

Now

$F_m=g_{m}m{F}_e=g_{e}m$

where $m$ is mass of the body , $g_e$ is acceleration due to gravity on the earth's surface and $g_m$ is acceleration due to gravity on the moon's surface.

Substituting $F_m\text{and}{F}_e$ in equation (1)

$g_{m}m=\frac{g_{e}m}{6}$

or $g_m=\frac{g_e}{6}$

Thus acceleration due to gravity on the surface of the moon is $\frac{1}{6}$ times(and not 6 times) of that on the earth's surface.