Value of g on Moon: Formula, Calculation, Comparison and Effects

The value of g on Moon is an important concept in Physics that explains how gravity acts on objects on the Moon. The acceleration due to gravity is the force that pulls a freely falling object toward the surface of a celestial body. Have you ever wondered why astronauts can jump higher and carry heavy equipment more easily on the Moon? The reason is that the Moon's gravitational pull is much weaker than Earth's. The value of g on Moon is only about one-sixth of the value on Earth.

This article explains the value of g on Moon, its formula, calculation, comparison with Earth, and its effects on objects and astronauts.

Table of Contents

• Acceleration Due to Gravity
• What is the Value of g on Moon
• Formula and Calculation of Value of g on Moon
• Why is the Value of g on Moon less than on Earth
• Effects of the Value of g on Moon
• Frequently Asked Questions on Value of g on Moon

Acceleration Due to Gravity

Acceleration due to gravity is the acceleration gained by an object when it falls freely under the influence of a gravitational force. It is represented by the symbol g and is a vector quantity because it has both magnitude and direction.

The SI unit of acceleration due to gravity is meter per second squared (m/s²).

The value of g depends on the mass and radius of the celestial body. Therefore, its value varies from one planet or satellite to another.

What is the Value of g on Moon

The value of g on Moon refers to the acceleration due to gravity experienced by objects on the Moon's surface. Just like Earth pulls objects toward its surface, the Moon also exerts a gravitational force, but it is much weaker because the Moon has less mass.

Have you ever wondered why astronauts can jump higher and seem to move in slow motion on the Moon?

The reason is the Moon's lower gravitational pull. Because of this weaker gravity, objects fall more slowly and weigh much less than they do on Earth.

The value of g on Moon is, 

$g = 1.625 \, m/s^2$

This means a freely falling object on the Moon accelerates downward at a rate of 1.625 meters per second every second.

The fact is that this value is much smaller than Earth's acceleration due to gravity, which is approximately 9.8 m/s².

Also Read: Moon: Earth’s Natural Satellite, Movements and Importance 

Formula and Calculation of Value of g on Moon 

Let's first try to understand the formula used to calculate acceleration due to gravity.

$g=\frac{GM}{R^2}$

Where G is the universal gravitational constant (6.674 × 10⁻¹¹ N m²/kg²), M is the mass of the celestial body (kg), R is the radius of the celestial body (m) and g is the acceleration due to gravity (m/s²).

This formula shows that gravity depends on both the mass and radius of the object.

Calculation of Value of g on Moon

The mass of the Moon is:

M = 7.35 × 10²² kg

The radius of the Moon is:

$R = 1.74 \times 10^6\,m$

Substituting these values into the formula:

$g=\frac{GM}{R^2}$

$g=\frac{(6.674\times10^{-11})(7.35\times10^{22})}{(1.74\times10^6)^2}$

g=1.625 m/s²

Therefore,

$g_{moon}=1.625\,m/s^2$

Thus, the value of g on Moon is approximately 1.625 m/s².

Why is the Value of g on Moon less than on Earth

Gravity depends on the mass of a celestial body and the distance from its center. Since the Moon has much less mass than Earth, it exerts a weaker gravitational pull on objects present on its surface.

The fact is that the Moon's gravity is only about one-sixth of Earth's gravity. This is why astronauts can jump higher, objects weigh less, and movements appear slower on the Moon. Here is important reasons,

• The Moon has much less mass than Earth.
• The Moon's gravitational pull is weaker.
• Its smaller size affects the gravitational force experienced on its surface.

As a result, the value of g on Moon is only about one-sixth of Earth's gravity.

Comparison of Value of g on Earth and Moon

Property	Earth	Moon
Acceleration Due to Gravity	9.8 m/s²	1.625 m/s²
Relative Gravity	100%	About 16.6%
Weight of Objects	Higher	Lower
Jump Height	Lower	Higher

Interestingly! A person weighing 60 kg on Earth would still have a mass of 60 kg on the Moon, but their weight would become much smaller.

Effects of the Value of g on Moon

The value of g on Moon is approximately 1.62 m/s², while on Earth it is about 9.8 m/s². This means the Moon's gravity is only about one-sixth of Earth's gravity. As a result, objects and people behave very differently on the lunar surface.

• Astronauts Can Jump Higher: Because the Moon's gravitational pull is weaker, astronauts can jump much higher than they can on Earth. 
• Objects Weigh Less on the Moon: Weight depends on gravity. Since the Moon's gravity is lower, objects weigh much less there. 
• Easier Movement of Heavy Equipment: Interestingly, space suits and scientific equipment that feel very heavy on Earth become much easier to carry and move on the Moon because of the reduced gravitational force.
• Slower Falling Objects: Objects dropped on the Moon fall more slowly than they do on Earth. This happens because the acceleration due to gravity is much smaller.
• The Moon Cannot Hold a Dense Atmosphere: The Moon's weaker gravity is not strong enough to hold large amounts of gases around it. As a result, the Moon has an extremely thin atmosphere and is often described as having a near-vacuum environment.

In this article, we learned that the value of g on Moon is approximately 1.625 m/s², which is about one-sixth of Earth's gravity. We also studied the formula, calculation, comparison with Earth, and the effects of lower gravity on objects and astronauts. The lower gravitational pull of the Moon is the main reason why objects weigh less and move differently on its surface.