The concept behind feeling lighter on the Moon compared to Earth can be explained through two key principles in physics: gravity and mass.
1. Gravity: Gravity is a force that attracts two objects towards each other. The strength of this force depends on the masses of the objects and the distance between them. Every object, including the Moon and Earth, has its own gravitational pull. The Earth is much bigger and has more mass than the Moon. Because of this, Earth's gravitational force is stronger than that of the Moon. This stronger force pulls objects, including us, more strongly towards the Earth's surface.
2. Mass and Weight: It's important to understand the difference between mass and weight. Mass is the amount of matter in an object and does not change whether you are on Earth, the Moon, or anywhere else. Weight, however, is the force exerted by gravity on an object's mass. Since the Moon's gravitational force is weaker (about 1/6th of Earth's), the weight of an object (or a person) on the Moon is less than its weight on Earth. This is why you would feel lighter on the Moon.
In simpler terms, think of it like this: if you had a backpack full of books, it would feel much heavier on Earth because Earth's gravity is pulling it down more strongly. On the Moon, the same backpack would feel lighter because the Moon’s gravity is not pulling as hard on it. Your body reacts to this change in gravitational pull, so you feel lighter on the Moon.