What Is the Difference Between a Person's Weight on Earth & on the Moon?

While humans may weigh a specific amount on Earth, that number can change drastically when setting foot on other planets or moons. While weights may change, a person's mass, or matter, remains consistent. Weight occurs as a result of gravitational pull on an object; the stronger the gravitational pull, the higher an object's weight. A person's weight on Earth compared to a person's weight on Earth's moon demonstrate the importance of gravity on weight.
  1. Gravitational Pull on Earth

    • As a person moves outward from the core of Earth, the gravitational pull lessens. Larger planets, such as Jupiter, Neptune and Saturn, possess a stronger gravitational pull than smaller planets, such as Mars or Mercury. As a person moves to higher altitudes, the gravitational force lessens slightly. Due to Earth's rotations, a human also experiences a greater gravitational pull at the planet's poles than at the equator. Earth's gravitational pull is similar to that of Venus, Uranus, Saturn, and Neptune, which range from 80 to 120 percent of Earth's gravity.

    Gravitational Pull on the Moon

    • A person weighing 100 lb. on Earth can experience drastic weight loss upon arriving on the moon. The moon harbors approximately 17 percent of the gravity of Earth, meaning that objects on the moon weigh less than they would on Earth. A 100 lb. person, then, would weigh 17 lb. on the moon. Multiply your weight on Earth by 0.17 to calculate your weight on the moon. Divide your weight on the moon by 0.17 to calculate your weight on Earth.

    Gravitational Differences

    • Earth's diameter measures approximately 12,800 km, dwarfing the moon's diameter of approximately 3,500 km. The disparity between the planets' sizes and masses contribute to the different gravitational pulls of both bodies. Like other bodies that demonstrate little gravitational pull compared to Earth, the moon does not have an atmosphere.

    Moon's Similarities to Other Planets and Moons

    • Many moons in the solar system exhibit gravitational pulls that are similar to Earth's moon. Among Jupiter's four moons -- Europa, Ganymede, Callisto and Io -- a 100 lb. person would weigh approximately 13 lb. to 18 lb. Besides those four moons, a person traveling in the solar system would weigh the least on Pluto. There, a 100 lb. person would weigh about 7 lb. Jupiter boasts the strongest gravitational pull in the solar system; on that particular gas giant, a 100 lb. person balloons to approximately 236 lb.

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