Question

An astronaut standing on the surface of the moon throws a ball upwards. The ball would

• A. Directly fall down from the point it is released.
• B. Hang in space.
• C. Go up and then come back to the surface of the moon.
• D. Keep going up never to come back.

Answer 1

The correct option is C

Go up and then come back to the surface of the moon.

The explanation for the correct option

Option (C)

1. When we throw a ball upward it goes up and comes back after some seconds on the surface of the earth, if we do this on the surface of the moon we get a similar result.
2. The gravitational force of the moon is $\frac{1}{6}$times the earth's gravitational force. That's why the ball thrown from the surface of the moon takes some extra time to come back because the downward force exerted on the body is less than the earth's gravitational force.
3. Therefore, the ball goes up and then comes back to the surface of the moon.

The explanation for the incorrect option

Option (A)

1. According to the question, the ball is thrown upwards, that's why it is not possible to directly fall down from the point it is released.

Option (B)

1. The moon's gravitational force is exerted on the body, so it is impossible for the ball to hang in space.

Option (D)

1. The moon's gravitational force is exerted on the body, so it is impossible for the ball to keep going up and never to come back.

Therefore, option (C) is correct.