Massless or Weightless?
Most recent answer: 10/22/2007
Q:
What is the mass and weight in outerspcae?
- rina 16
bayside
- rina 16
bayside
A:
The first thing you need to know is the difference between mass and
weight. Mass is the amount of matter that you are made of. Since you
are made of the same amount of matter no matter where you are, your
mass will stay the same if you go into space or even to other planets.
Weight is a bit different. Your weight is the combined effects of your mass and the force of gravity. All things that have mass produce a gravitational force. The neat thing about gravity is that it becomes weaker if you move far away from the source. So if you were in outer space, there is less gravity, so you would weigh almost nothing.
Another neat thing about gravity is that it is stronger if the source is more massive. The moon is less massive than the earth. So if you stood on the moon, you would weigh less than on Earth. How about Jupiter? Well, if Jupiter had a solid surface to stand on, you would weigh more since Jupiter is much more massive than Earth.
Adam
Weight is a bit different. Your weight is the combined effects of your mass and the force of gravity. All things that have mass produce a gravitational force. The neat thing about gravity is that it becomes weaker if you move far away from the source. So if you were in outer space, there is less gravity, so you would weigh almost nothing.
Another neat thing about gravity is that it is stronger if the source is more massive. The moon is less massive than the earth. So if you stood on the moon, you would weigh less than on Earth. How about Jupiter? Well, if Jupiter had a solid surface to stand on, you would weigh more since Jupiter is much more massive than Earth.
Adam
(published on 10/22/2007)