Question

On the moon, the gravity is 1/6 that of Earth. While on the moon, Buzz Aldrin carried on his back a support system that would weigh over 1760 N on Earth. a) What did the backpack weigh on the moon? b) What was its mass on the moon? please show the work

Answer 1

a) 293.
`\bar 3` N

b) Approximately 179.41 kg

Step-by-step explanation:

The given parameters are;

The gravity (gravitational acceleration) on the moon = 1/6 × The gravity on Earth

The weight of the support system Buzz Aldrin carries = 1760 N

a) Given that the weight of the support system on Earth = Mass of the support system, m × Gravity, g (Acceleration due to gravity) = m·g

The weight of the support system on Earth = m·g

We have;

The gravity on the moon = 1/6 × g

∴ The weight of the support system on the moon = Mass of the support system, m × 1/6 × g = m·g/6

∴ The weight on the of the support system on the moon = m·g/6 = 1/6 × m·g = 1/6 × m·g = 1/6 × The weight of the support system on Earth

The weight on the of the support system on the moon = 1/6 × 1760 N = 880/3 N = 293.
`\bar 3` N

b) The mass, m, of the support system on the moon = The mass, m, of the support system on Earth

The mass, m, of the support system on Earth = Weight of the support system/(Gravity(acceleration due to gravity))

∴ The mass, m, of the support system on Earth = 1760/9.81 ≈ 179.41 kg

∴ The mass, m, of the support system on the moon ≈ 179.41 kg.