By the end of this activity you will:
- Know how to calculate weight from mass and surface gravity
- Have read data from a table and used it in a calculation
- Have compared what you would weigh on different planets
To complete this activity you will need:
- To watch the video on this page
- To complete the worksheet (click here to open the worksheet)
- The Planet Data Sheet (below)
- Some paper and a pen
- A calculator (optional)
- Weighing scales (optional)
Approx Duration
15 - 30 mins
Have a go
Use the video on this page and the Planet Data Sheet below to complete the worksheet.
Remember, weight is the product of the mass and the surface gravity on the planet.
Weight = Mass x Surface Gravity
You can then check your answers using the weight calculator.
Planet Data Sheet
| Facts and Figures | Mercury | Venus | Earth | Mars | Jupiter | Saturn | Uranus | Neptune |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radius (km) | 2,440 | 6,052 | 6,378 | 3,397 | 71,492 | 60,268 | 25,559 | 24,746 |
| Mass (Earth masses) | 0.055 | 0.82 | 1.0 | 0.11 | 318 | 95.2 | 14.5 | 17.1 |
| Surface Gravity (g) | 0.38 | 0.91 | 1.0 | 0.38 | 2.34 | 0.93 | 0.92 | 1.12 |
| Number of moons | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 90+ | 140+ | 27 | 14 |
Note: 1 Earth mass = 5,980,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 kg and 1 g = 9.8 meters per second squared (m/s2)
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