Explain the following quote:
... it was several weeks before an emigrant from Earth could adapt to it. On the Moon
the human body had to learn a whole set of reflexes. It had, for the first time, to
distinguish between mass and weight.
A man who weighed one hundred eighty pounds on earth might be delighted to
discover that he weighed only thirty pounds on the Moon. As long as he moved in a
straight line at a uniform speed he felt a wonderful sense of buoyancy. But as soon as
he attempted to change course, to turn corners or to stop suddenly
–
then
he would find
that his full one hundred eight pounds of mass, or inertia, was still there. For that was
fixed and unalterable
–
the same on Earth, Moon, Sun, or in free space. Before one
could be properly adapted to lunar living, therefore, it was essential to learn that all
objects were now six times as sluggish as their mere weight would suggest. It was a
lesson usually driven home by numerous collisions and hard knocks, and old lunar
hands kept their distance from newcomers until they were acclimatized.
-- Arthur C. Clarke. (2001: A Space Odyssey)
My answer- This quote is telling us that force of gravity makes a huge difference when calculating mass and weight.
Gravity makes a huge difference in calculating weight; however, the mass doesn't change.
As for turning corners and stopping etc: Momentum is m*v. the m did not change so momentum still rules.
Actually, this quote is explaining the concept of mass and weight in the context of living on the Moon. On the Moon, the force of gravity is much weaker compared to Earth. As a result, an individual's weight on the Moon is significantly reduced. For instance, a person who weighs 180 pounds on Earth would only weigh 30 pounds on the Moon.
However, despite the decrease in weight, the mass of an object or person remains the same regardless of the gravitational force experienced. Mass represents the amount of matter in an object and is a fixed property of that object. On Earth, we often use weight as a measure of an object's mass due to the consistent force of gravity. On the Moon, where gravity is weaker, the difference between mass and weight becomes more apparent.
The quote also mentions that on the Moon, one must learn a new set of reflexes because the reduced gravitational force affects movement. Due to the decrease in weight, a person may feel a sense of buoyancy and be able to move in a straight line at a uniform speed easily. However, any attempt to change direction, turn corners, or stop suddenly will require exerting force against the person's mass or inertia, which remains the same. This can result in collisions or hard knocks until one becomes acclimatized to the lunar environment.
Overall, the quote highlights the need for individuals to adapt and learn the differences in mass and weight when living on the Moon, as objects and movements are affected by the altered gravitational forces.
The quote explains the experience of an emigrant from Earth trying to adapt to life on the Moon. On Earth, the force of gravity is much stronger compared to the Moon. As a result, the human body on Earth is used to certain reflexes and movements that are efficient in a high-gravity environment.
However, on the Moon, where the force of gravity is only about one-sixth that of Earth, the human body has to learn a whole new set of reflexes and movements. This is because the weight of the body is determined by the force of gravity acting on it, while the mass of the body remains the same regardless of the gravitational force.
For example, let's say a person weighs 180 pounds on Earth. When they step foot on the Moon, they would feel a sense of buoyancy because their weight decreases to around 30 pounds due to the lower gravity. This sensation is experienced when moving in a straight line at a uniform speed.
However, when the person tries to change direction, turn corners, or stop suddenly, they would realize that their mass (or inertia) remains the same. In this case, their full 180 pounds of mass would still be present, making their movements feel sluggish and requiring more effort than they are used to. This is because mass is a measure of an object's resistance to changes in motion, and it remains constant regardless of the gravitational force.
In order to adapt to lunar living, it becomes essential for individuals to learn that all objects on the Moon are about six times more sluggish compared to their weight would suggest. This lesson is often driven home through numerous collisions and hard knocks, which help individuals realize the difference between weight and mass.
As a result, experienced lunar inhabitants tend to keep their distance from newcomers until they have become acclimatized to the Moon's unique gravitational environment.