Please help me calculate weight of a person on the moon

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the weight of a person on the moon using gravitational force equations. The original poster presents the mass and diameter of the moon, along with the gravitational constant, and seeks to understand the manipulation of the gravitational force formula.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to manipulate the gravitational force formula to derive a different expression for mass. They express confusion about the algebra involved in this manipulation.
  • Some participants suggest that the original poster does not need to find the mass to calculate weight, indicating a simpler approach.
  • There is a request for clarification on how to derive one formula from another, specifically regarding the steps taken in the manipulation.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing guidance on the use of the gravitational force formula. There is acknowledgment of the original poster's efforts to understand the underlying concepts, and some clarification has been offered regarding the algebraic manipulation involved.

Contextual Notes

The original poster notes that this inquiry is not for homework but rather a self-directed learning effort, highlighting a desire for deeper understanding beyond superficial explanations in their study materials.

guitar
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the mass of the moon is about 7.5*10^22 kg and its diameter is about 3.5*10^6 meters. calculate the weight of a 70 kg person on the moon.

so we got F=G*m1*m2/d^2

G=6.67*10^-11N*m^2/kg^2

to find the mass we can use m1= F*d^2/m2*G (how did we manipulate the first formula to get this? no matter how i try to change the first formula it never ends up like this one)

i have been trying to solve this for a week now. it`s not a homework. i am just trying to teach myself physics and this book i purchased is very superficial and leaves huge holes in explanations.

please show me how to solve this. including the manipulations with scientific notation.
thanks.
 
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you don't need to find the mass, the force F will give you the person's weight.
 
rock.freak667 said:
you don't need to find the mass, the force F will give you the person's weight.

so i have to use the first formula?

and i`d like to know how exactly the second formula for m1 was obtained from the first one.
 
guitar said:
so i have to use the first formula?

Yes.

guitar said:
and i`d like to know how exactly the second formula for m1 was obtained from the first one.

F=\frac{GM_1M_2}{d^2}

multiply both sides by d2 and then divide by GM2
 
sorry for a reply long overdue. THANK YOU TONS, especially for breaking down the process of obtaining a formula from another.
 

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