Weight / Mass on the Moon

Learning objectives

To distinguish between the weight (Intensity of the force in N) and the mass of a body (Fundamental property in kg).
To simulate the influence of the gravitational constant on the weight.

Here, we highlight the distinction between weight and mass on the moon. We also show the proportionality between them.

The weight of an object is a force expressed in Newton (N). It is also defined as the force of gravity acting on the object. Weight must not be confused with the mass of an object which is a fundamental property of the object expressed in kilogram (kg).

Therefore, the mass of an object on the Moon remains the same as its mass on Earth. But its weight gets less because the gravity on the moon is less than on the Earth.