Question

The moon is acted upon by the gravitational pull of the earth and still it does not fall on it.explain why? Determine the ratio of an object of mass 50 kg on earth and moon as well as ratio of their weights?

Answer 1

Earth attracts moon but moon still does not falls towards earth. However, the direction of moon is changed at every instant. SO, this results in centripetal force and binds moon around earth in a fixed path.

We=Weight of object on earth =50 Kg

Wm=Weight of object on moon

Gravity on earth=6*Gravity on moon

So, Gravity on moon=1/6 Gravity on earth

We=Mass*Gravity

50=Mass*10

Mass=5Kg

Mass remains same everywhere.

So, Wm=Mass*Gravity

Wm=5*10/6

Wm=8.33 Kg

Now, We:Wm=50:8.33 = 6:1