You would weigh about one-sixth as much on the Moon as on Earth because the Moon’s surface gravity is much weaker. Your mass—the amount of matter in your body—would stay the same.
How weight is calculated
Weight is a force produced by gravity: weight equals mass multiplied by gravitational acceleration. Earth’s surface gravity is about 9.8 meters per second squared, compared with about 1.62 on the Moon.
A quick example
If a scale reports 180 pounds on Earth, the equivalent gravitational force on the Moon is approximately 30 pounds-force. Everyday bathroom scales assume Earth’s gravity, so a specially calibrated scale is needed for a meaningful lunar reading.
Why the Moon pulls less
The Moon has much less mass than Earth. The amount of gravity you experience also depends on distance from the center of the attracting body, so size and mass both help explain surface gravity.
What lower gravity would feel like
You could jump higher and lift the same object more easily against gravity, but the object’s mass and inertia do not disappear. Starting or stopping a heavy object would still require care.
Frequently asked question
Would you lose body mass by traveling to the Moon?
No. Your mass remains essentially unchanged simply because your location and the local gravitational field change.
Source and further reading
See the NASA reference for additional scientific background.
Leave a Reply