Is this true? "If the moon’s gravity ceased to exist, then all the rocks on the moon would drop to earth”

Question

I am trying to find a response to this statement from a physical science perspective. I'm just a little unsure on whether this would be correct, and why or why not. Any help would be appreciated!

Answer 1

Moon's gravity wont cease to exist as long as it mass. It will not be a problem because if there is no mass, there are no rocks on the moon would drop to earth (unless some mojo scientist can slingshot projectiles from the moon).

Answer 2

May be the rocks only response the moon but not humans and the things which come earth

Answer 3

Well that can't happen, and even if it did the opposite would be true.  As the moon is in obit around the Earth and is moving further away is tiny amounts year over year, the moving away would accelerate as the mutual tug between the earth and the moon would be less if the moon contributed no gravity.  Additionally the moon which is not very dense compared to the earth would fall apart in the absence of its own gravity.  Some of that debris might fall to Earth, but the vast majority would drift away as the angular momentum carried it out.  Of course angular momentum is controlled by gravity, so when you theoretically turn gravity off, all bets are off.

Answer 4

I know that an object needs to be a certain size before gravity truly takes over, something like hydrostatic equilibrium.  If gravity  doesn't affect the moon, I think the chemical and physical interactions between the molecules that make up the moon are enough to keep it together.  The moon's orbit might change, but chunks won't start randomly falling off.  If the moon is larger than hydrostatic equilibrium, whatever it's called, then the moon might change shape or something, but overall it's the chemical bonds in the moon keeping it together.

Answer 5

Not to any great extent; the centrifugal force would still be there to force the rocks away from the Earth