To determine the weight of a bowling ball on the moon, we need to understand the relationship between weight, gravity, and mass.
Weight is the force exerted by gravity on an object. On Earth, this force depends on the object's mass and the acceleration due to gravity, which is approximately 9.8 m/s². Weight can be calculated using the formula:
Weight = Mass x Gravity
On the moon, the acceleration due to gravity is only 1/6 of Earth’s gravity. This means the gravitational pull on the moon is much weaker compared to the Earth. If we take the Earth's gravity to be 9.8 m/s², the moon's gravity would be:
Moon's Gravity = (9.8 m/s²) x (1/6) ≈ 1.63 m/s²
Given that the weight of an object is directly proportional to the gravitational force, the weight of an object on the moon would be substantially less than its weight on Earth. Thus, the weight of the bowling ball on the moon would be:
Weight on Moon = (Mass) x (1.63 m/s²) = 1/6 of its weight on Earth
Therefore, the weight of a bowling ball on the moon is 1/6 of its weight on Earth.