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Evidently reading the question is hard too as everyone here and on the site has missed it: "If a pen is dropped on a moon" Not the Moon. The moon in question c
by tjmc 17y ago
Evidently reading the question is hard too as everyone here and on the site has missed it:
"If a pen is dropped on a moon" Not the Moon.
The moon in question could be Phobos, Titan, Europa etc
- char 17y agoYes, but then you'd have to consider the gravitational effect of Mars/Saturn/Jupiter. What happens to the pen then?!?
- JeanPierre 17y agoIt will still be attracted, because all other gravitational forces apart from the gravitational force on that moon will be negligible.
- char 17y agoYes, I know. I was trying to be sarcastic. :)
- tjmc 17y agoAccording to Wikipedia, the terms "moon" and "satellite" are basically interchangeable. There's some use of the term "moonlet" for very small bodies but there isn't a defined size you have to reach to be officially a moon (unlike a planet to the disappointment of Pluto fans). So drop your pen in a dusty part of Saturn's rings for example and it might be the biggest "moon" around and start attracting smaller bodies to itself.
- petercooper 17y agoOr even http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g7KcbMxmLEU/R4-JxU_YZgI/AAAAAAAADCY/0qIPTnxKZLI/s400/mooning.jpg http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g7KcbMxmLEU/R4-JxU_YZgI/AAAAAAAADC... I've seen people drop pens on to moons like that, and can confirm that they fall to the "surface" pretty quickly. (Sorry, I'll be back off to Reddit now to say 20 Hail Marys.. :-))
- tjmc 17y agoGold!
- Raphael 17y agoGood catch.
- mfukar 17y agoIt doesn't matter which moon you drop it on. It will fall. Unless it's an imaginary moon. I'll give you that.