The solar system - CCEAHow weight varies from planet to planet in our solar system

The solar system consists of the Sun surrounded by planets, comets and asteroids in orbit. Most planets in the solar system have moons in orbit around them.

Part ofCombined ScienceEarth in space

How weight varies from planet to planet in our solar system

The force of gravity on 1 kg on the surface of different planets varies as shown below.

PlanetGravity on the surface, g in N/kg
Mercury3.8
Venus9.1
Earth10
Mars3.8
Jupiter23.4
Saturn9.3
Uranus9.2
Neptune11.2
PlanetMercury
Gravity on the surface, g in N/kg3.8
PlanetVenus
Gravity on the surface, g in N/kg9.1
PlanetEarth
Gravity on the surface, g in N/kg10
PlanetMars
Gravity on the surface, g in N/kg3.8
PlanetJupiter
Gravity on the surface, g in N/kg23.4
PlanetSaturn
Gravity on the surface, g in N/kg9.3
PlanetUranus
Gravity on the surface, g in N/kg9.2
PlanetNeptune
Gravity on the surface, g in N/kg11.2

Use a set of bathroom scales to measure your mass in kg.

Then use the table above and the equation:

Weight = mass x gravity to investigate how your mass and weight would vary from planet to planet.

Here is a typical set of results for a student whose mass measured 64 kg.

PlanetGravity on the surface, g in N/kgMass of student on the surface of each planet in kgWeight of student on the surface of each planet in N
Mercury3.864243
Venus9.164582
Earth1064640
Mars3.864243
Jupiter23.4641498
Saturn9.364595
Uranus9.264589
Neptune11.264717
PlanetMercury
Gravity on the surface, g in N/kg3.8
Mass of student on the surface of each planet in kg64
Weight of student on the surface of each planet in N243
PlanetVenus
Gravity on the surface, g in N/kg9.1
Mass of student on the surface of each planet in kg64
Weight of student on the surface of each planet in N582
PlanetEarth
Gravity on the surface, g in N/kg10
Mass of student on the surface of each planet in kg64
Weight of student on the surface of each planet in N640
PlanetMars
Gravity on the surface, g in N/kg3.8
Mass of student on the surface of each planet in kg64
Weight of student on the surface of each planet in N243
PlanetJupiter
Gravity on the surface, g in N/kg23.4
Mass of student on the surface of each planet in kg64
Weight of student on the surface of each planet in N1498
PlanetSaturn
Gravity on the surface, g in N/kg9.3
Mass of student on the surface of each planet in kg64
Weight of student on the surface of each planet in N595
PlanetUranus
Gravity on the surface, g in N/kg9.2
Mass of student on the surface of each planet in kg64
Weight of student on the surface of each planet in N589
PlanetNeptune
Gravity on the surface, g in N/kg11.2
Mass of student on the surface of each planet in kg64
Weight of student on the surface of each planet in N717

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