Question

Scientists want to place a telescope on the moon to improve their view of distant planets. The telescope weighs 200 pounds on Earth. What will happen to the weight of the telescope when it reaches the moon?

Answer 1

It will still weigh 200 lbs regardless of gravity or the absence thereof.

Answer 2

The weight will be about 16.5% of 200= approximately 33 pounds in moon

Step-by-step explanation:

Mass is defined as the quantity of matter that is present within a body whereas weight is defined as the quantity of mass that is present in a body on which the force acts.

Moon is very smaller in size when compared to the earth. Because of its smaller size, the moon has a smaller amount of mass and hence a low gravitational force. According to the research, it has been observed that any object whose weight is 100 kg on earth is only about 16.5% of it when it is on the moon.

So in the given condition, the telescope that is to be sent to the moon is 200 pounds on earth, but it will be about only 33 pounds as it reaches the moon.