Year 10 Force And Motion Practice Test

Why does weight change with location but mass does not? (Moon example)

Mass remains constant; weight changes with gravitational field strength; on the Moon gravity is weaker, so weight is less. Mass changes with location; weight remains constant. Mass increases with altitude; weight stays the same. Mass and weight both change with location equally.

Correct Answer:

Mass remains constant; weight changes with gravitational field strength; on the Moon gravity is weaker, so weight is less.

Explanation:

Weight is the gravitational force acting on an object, while mass is the amount of matter the object contains. The two are related by the equation F = m g, where F is weight, m is mass, and g is the local gravitational field strength. Mass stays the same no matter where you are, but g changes with location. On the Moon, gravity is weaker than on Earth, so the same mass experiences a smaller pull, meaning a smaller weight. For example, a person with mass stays constant, but their weight on the Moon is much less than on Earth because g is smaller there. This is why weight varies by location while mass does not.

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