Mr. R.’s World of Math

Weight on Mars

Lesson: HOW MUCH DO YOU WEIGH ON MARS?
Grade Level: 5-8
Skills: Multiplying by Decimals

Note: if your students would rather not use their actual weight, you can have them use the weight of a different object, or another family member.

I WEIGH _______ LBS. (POUNDS) ON EARTH.

*To find out how much you weigh on a different planet you must know how strong the gravitational pull of that planet is.
*The larger the mass of the planet, the stronger the gravitational pull.
*The stronger the gravitational pull the more you will weigh.
*Scientists have calculated the gravitational factors for all the planets (and little Pluto). These are represented by the decimals as follows:

1. Mercury = .38 
2. Venus = .90 
3. Mars = .38 
4. Jupiter= 2.7
5. Saturn= 1.2
6. Uranus= .93
7. Neptune= 1.2
8. Pluto= .03

1. ESTIMATE YOUR WEIGHT ON EACH PLANET

Make an educated guess of your weight on each planet.

Take into consideration these facts:

.25 X a number = 1/4 of the number
.33 X a number = 1/3 of the number
.50 X a number = 1/2 of the number
.75 X a number = 3/4 of the number
1.0 X a number = The number

Gravitational Factor of Each Planet X Estimated Weight

1.Mercury
2.Venus
3. Mars
4. Jupiter
5. Saturn
6. Uranus
7. Neptune
8. Pluto

2.FIND YOUR ACTUAL WEIGHT ON EACH PLANET
To find your actual weight on the other planets you must multiply your earth weight by the decimal (gravitational factor) for the planet.

Planet  Gravitational factorX Your weight on Planet
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

From your findings which planet do you think has the greatest mass?

Which has the smallest?

If you had to live on a different planet which one would it be? why?

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