Final answer:
Being hit by a ton of bricks on the moon would hurt, but it would hurt less than on Earth due to the moon's lower gravity. The bricks would still have the same mass, but the gravitational pull is weaker, thus less force at impact. A ton signifies mass, therefore a ton of bricks or feathers would have the same mass, but bricks are denser.
Step-by-step explanation:
The expression "like a ton of bricks" indeed signifies something happening with great force or impact. When considering whether being hit by an actual ton of bricks on the moon would hurt, we must understand the physics involved. While the gravitational acceleration on the Moon is about 1/6 that of Earth's, the mass of the bricks remains unchanged. Gravity affects weight, not mass. Therefore, being hit by a ton of bricks on the moon would still be extremely harmful. However, the lower gravity would mean that the bricks would strike with less force than they would on Earth, because the acceleration due to gravity is less. So, while the impact would be severe, it would be comparatively less severe than an identical situation occurring on Earth. This is why the correct answer is C. It would hurt less than on Earth.
Furthermore, due to the lack of air on the moon, air resistance would not slow down the bricks as they fall, leading to a complete transformation of potential energy into kinetic energy upon impact. That said, the overall severity of the impact would still be less than on Earth due to the reduced gravitational pull. Answering the question, the velocity of the rock (or bricks, in this case) as it hits the ground would depend on the height from which they fell and the moon's gravity, but the lunar surface velocity would be smaller compared to Earth due to the lower gravity.
It is essential to note that a ton is a measure of mass, and whether it is a ton of feathers or a ton of bricks, the mass is the same, but the density differs. This is crucial in understanding that the potential damage is tied to mass and velocity at impact, not density.