Astronomy & space · Grades 5–8
Mass and weight on other worlds
Study guide for Grades 5 to 8: 2 worked examples and 2 practice questions. Mass is the amount of matter and stays the same everywhere. Weight is the pull of gravity, so it changes from world to world.
Rule and key idea
Mass is the amount of matter and stays the same everywhere. Weight is the pull of gravity, so it changes from world to world.
weight elsewhere ≈ Earth weight × gravity factor · mass does not change
Worked examples
Gravity on Mars is about 0.38 times as strong as on Earth. A rover weighs 1480 N on Earth. About how much would it weigh on Mars? Round to one decimal place.
1480 × 0.38 = 562.4
562.4 N
Gravity on the Moon is about one-sixth as strong as on Earth. A science instrument weighs 246 N on Earth. About how much would it weigh on the Moon?
246 ÷ 6 = 41
41 N
Try two questions
Gravity on Mars is about 0.38 times as strong as on Earth. A lander weighs 810 N on Earth. About how much would it weigh on Mars? Round to one decimal place.
A toolbox has a mass of 14 kg on Earth. What is its mass on the Moon?
Answers and reasoning
Answers and marking notes
- 307.8 N
810 × 0.38 = 307.8
- 14 kg
Mass does not depend on gravity: still 14 kg.
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