Gravitational Pull Varies Across the Solar System

The pull of gravity you feel while standing on Earth results from the planet’s mass and radius. On worlds with different masses or sizes, you would feel lighter or heavier depending on the local surface gravity. This calculator reveals those differences by converting your Earth weight to equivalent weights on other planets.

The relationship between your weight and gravitational force is simple. Weight is the product of your mass and the local acceleration due to gravity. In MathML, that looks like:

Your mass m remains constant wherever you travel, but the gravitational acceleration g changes from planet to planet. To find your weight on another world, multiply your mass by that planet’s surface gravity.

Surface Gravity Ratios

Scientists have measured the gravitational acceleration for each major planet. Here are the values relative to Earth, where Earth’s gravity equals 1 g:

Planet	Gravity (g)
Mercury	0.38
Venus	0.91
Mars	0.38
Jupiter	2.34
Saturn	1.06
Uranus	0.92
Neptune	1.19

The Moon’s gravity is about 0.165 g, so you would weigh roughly one-sixth of your Earth weight there. Massive Jupiter exerts more than twice the pull of our planet, while tiny Mercury has only about 38% of Earth’s gravity.

Using the Calculator

First enter your weight on Earth, choosing kilograms or pounds from the dropdown. When you press the Calculate button, the script converts pounds to kilograms if needed, then multiplies by each planet’s gravity ratio. It presents the results in a table so you can quickly compare how your weight would change if you could stand on different worlds.

Because all calculations run in your browser, no data leaves your device. Feel free to experiment with different weights to see how the gravitational differences scale. You might wonder how heavy a 100 kg astronaut would feel on Jupiter versus the Moon, or how astronauts adapt to the weak gravity on Mars.

Example Calculation

Imagine you weigh 180 lb on Earth. Converting to kilograms gives approximately 81.6 kg. On Mars, whose gravity is 0.38 g, you would weigh about 31 kg. The math is straightforward:

This process repeats for each planet. The resulting table demonstrates the extremes—from floating gently on the Moon to feeling an enormous pull on Jupiter. Those vast differences in gravity shape each world’s geology and make human exploration challenging.

Why Gravity Matters

Understanding planetary gravity is crucial for space missions, spacecraft design, and even the health of astronauts. Long-term exposure to low gravity can weaken bones and muscles, while sudden transitions to high-gravity environments strain the cardiovascular system. Engineers account for these forces when planning landings, takeoffs, and habitats.

Gravitational variations also inspire thought experiments about how everyday activities would differ on other planets. How high could you jump on the Moon? Could you even walk on Jupiter’s crushing surface? This calculator sparks curiosity about such questions, highlighting the fascinating diversity of celestial bodies.

Exploring Further

If you want to dive deeper, you can use the gravity ratios to estimate how much potential energy you would gain by climbing a ladder on Mars versus Earth, or how far a thrown ball might travel in different environments. Gravitational physics touches many aspects of planetary science and astronomy, and this simple calculation is just the beginning.

We encourage you to experiment and share the results with friends or in the classroom. Discussing how gravity shapes the cosmos can foster a greater appreciation for our own planet. The more you explore, the more you’ll recognize the delicate balance that allows Earth to host life.

Conclusion

This planetary weight calculator is a fun way to see how gravity changes across the solar system. By entering your Earth weight, you can instantly learn how heavy or light you would feel on other worlds. Whether you’re a student studying physics or simply curious about space, this tool offers a hands-on glimpse into the power of gravity.

The same approach can extend beyond our solar system, though planetary data becomes more speculative. As astronomers discover exoplanets orbiting distant stars, they estimate surface gravity based on mass and radius measurements. Imagining your weight on those alien worlds can be a creative exercise that combines science with wonder.

While these calculations are straightforward, they hint at the extraordinary diversity of environments beyond Earth. Exploring how gravity influences weather, geology, and even potential life helps scientists prioritize future missions. A world with low surface gravity might be easier to launch from, while a high-gravity planet could trap a denser atmosphere.

Keep experimenting with different values and consider how daily life would feel under weaker or stronger pulls. Thinking about such variations fuels curiosity and can inspire future generations of scientists and engineers who dream of venturing to other worlds.