Question

There are two kinds of balances-beam balance and spring balance. If both the balances give the same measure of a given object on the surface of the earth, will they give the same measure on the surface of the moon? Explain why.

Answer 1

1. Beam balance is used to measure mass whereas spring balance is used to measure weight.
2. The mass of a body is a constant quantity and is the same everywhere.
3. The weight of a body is a variable quantity and depends upon the acceleration due to gravity at that place.
4. The acceleration due to gravity on the moon is $\frac{1}{6}$times that on the surface of the earth, therefore, the weight of an object on the moon will be $\frac{1}{6}$times of the surface of the earth.

Hence, beam balance will give the same measure whereas the measure of spring balance will change.