The Mass of the Moon — Reading Comprehension

The Moon is Earth’s only natural satellite, and it has been important to humans for thousands of years. One key fact about the Moon is its mass, which is how much matter it has. The Moon’s mass is about 1/80th of Earth’s mass. That means Earth is about 80 times heavier than the Moon! Even though the Moon looks big in the night sky, it is much smaller than our planet.

The Moon’s smaller mass affects its gravity. Gravity is the force that pulls things toward each other. Since the Moon has less mass, it also has weaker gravity. If you stood on the Moon, you would weigh about one-sixth of what you weigh on Earth. For example, if you weigh 60 pounds on Earth, you would only weigh 10 pounds on the Moon! That is why astronauts on the Moon could jump high and move differently than on Earth.

Scientists study the mass of the Moon to understand how it formed. They think a long time ago, a giant object crashed into Earth, breaking off a piece that became the Moon. By studying the Moon’s mass and materials, scientists learn about how planets and moons form and change.

Learning about the Moon’s mass also helps scientists plan space missions. Engineers need to know how much fuel and equipment are needed to land safely on the Moon. 

Knowing about the Moon’s mass shows how math and science help us explore the universe. Even though it is smaller than Earth, the Moon is a big part of our solar system and helps us understand more about how space works.

Fun Fact: Because of its weak gravity, you could dunk a basketball over 20 feet high on the Moon!

What is the mass of the Moon compared to Earth?

What is gravity?

Why does the Moon have weaker gravity than Earth?

If you weigh 60 pounds on Earth, about how much would you weigh on the Moon?

Which NGSS idea does this passage connect to?

How did scientists think the Moon formed?

What is the main idea of the passage?

Why do engineers need to know about the Moon’s mass?