What is the weight on mars

Answer: Weight on Mars \(= m \times g_{Mars}\), with \(g_{Mars} \approx 3.7\ \text{m/s}^2\), i.e. about 0.38 times the weight on earth. For example, a 60 kg person weighs about 222 N on Mars.

• Weight is the gravitational force on a body: \(W = mg\), measured in newtons (N).
• The mass \(m\) (in kg) of a body does not change from planet to planet; only \(g\) changes.
• On Mars, \(g_{Mars} \approx 3.7\ \text{m/s}^2\), about 0.38 times the earth's \(9.8\ \text{m/s}^2\), so a body weighs about 0.38 times its earth weight.

Example: a person of mass 60 kg

Weight on earth \(= 60 \times 9.8 = 588\ \text{N}\)

Weight on Mars \(= 60 \times 3.7 = 222\ \text{N}\) (about \(0.38 \times 588 \approx 223\ \text{N}\))

The mass of the person is still 60 kg on Mars.

Answer: On Mars your mass stays the same, but your weight becomes about 0.38 times (roughly 3/8 of) your weight on Earth, because g on Mars is about 3.7 m/s².

Weight is the gravitational force with which a planet pulls an object:

\[ W = mg \]

Mass \(m\) is the amount of matter in the body and does not change from place to place. Only \(g\) changes.

• On Earth: \(g \approx 9.8\ \text{m/s}^2\)
• On Mars: \(g \approx 3.7\ \text{m/s}^2\), which is about \(0.38\) of Earth's value (Mars has a smaller mass and radius)

Example: a student of mass 60 kg.

\[ W_{\text{Earth}} = 60 \times 9.8 = 588\ \text{N} \]

\[ W_{\text{Mars}} = 60 \times 3.7 = 222\ \text{N} \]

So the weight on Mars is about \(0.38 \times 588 \approx 222\) N, while the mass is still 60 kg. Note that weight must be written in newtons (N), not in kilograms; kg is the unit of mass.