If you go to the moon, does your mass or weight change?Aboth changeBonly weightConly massDnothing changes

Break Down the Problem

1. Understand the Concepts: Distinguish between mass and weight.
2. Identify Changes on the Moon: Assess how a change in location affects mass and weight.

Relevant Concepts

1. Mass: The amount of matter in an object, measured in kilograms (kg), which is constant regardless of location.
2. Weight: The force exerted by gravity on an object, calculated by the formula $W = m \cdot g$, where:
   • $W$ is weight,
   • $m$ is mass,
   • $g$ is the acceleration due to gravity.

Analysis and Detail

1. On Earth, the acceleration due to gravity is approximately $9.81 \, \text{m/s}^2$.
2. On the Moon, the acceleration due to gravity is about $1.62 \, \text{m/s}^2$.
3. When you travel to the Moon, your mass remains the same, but your weight decreases due to the lower gravitational pull.

Verify and Summarize

• Since mass is a scalar quantity and does not change with location, it remains the same on the Moon.
• Weight, on the other hand, does change because the gravitational force is different compared to Earth.

Final Answer

B) only weight changes when you go to the Moon; your mass remains the same.