People can pick up a rock on moon with less effort....but will throwing it horizontally take more effort?

Question

People can pick up a rock on moon with less effort....but will throwing it horizontally take more effort?

Answer 1

A newcomer on the Moon would probably find that his normal bracing (panting the back foot when throwing) might be insufficient.

on Earth, much of the force provided by the bracing -- preventing one from slipping backwards when throwing something forward -- comes from friction between the foot and the ground, itself affected by our weight.

Friction = weight * coefficient of friction.

On the Moon, the mass of the rock is the same as it would be on Earth, so that the same force is needed to throw it at the same speed.

However, the rock will feel lighter in the hand, leaving you with the (false) impression that the mass is less.  Therefore, unless you consciously change the way you brace yourself, your muscles' will brace themselves for what should be needed for a smaller rock.  The friction provided by the bracing will be less than what's you'd get on Earth.

Result:  your foot will likely slip backwards as you throw the rock forward with insufficient force (because your brain assumed it had less mass).

It will hit the ground before reaching home plate.  Ball one.

Answer 2

It will pick up more easily and go farther after being thrown.

Answer 3

It will still take less. The horizontal motion will take the same effort, but they'll spend less effort holding the weight of the rock up while they're throwing it.

Answer 4

no it will be easier to throw.  It is like the golf shot on the moon.  The same effort drove the ball a lot further.