On the surface of the moon, a clock will

Options

A. run slow
B. run fast
C. remain stationary
D. nothing can be. Decided

Answer

To determine how a clock will behave on the surface of the moon, we can analyze the situation using the principles of physics, particularly focusing on the effect of gravity on the time period of a pendulum clock.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Time Period of a Pendulum**:
The time period (T) of a simple pendulum is given by the formula:
\[ T = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{L}{g}} \]
where:
- \(T\) is the time period,
- \(L\) is the length of the pendulum,
- \(g\) is the acceleration due to gravity.

2. **Comparing Gravity on Earth and the Moon**:
The acceleration due to gravity on the moon (\(g_{moon}\)) is approximately \(1/6\)th that of Earth's gravity (\(g_{earth}\)). This means:
\[ g_{moon} < g_{earth} \]

3. **Effect of Reduced Gravity on Time Period**:
Since \(g\) is in the denominator of the time period formula, a decrease in \(g\) (as is the case on the moon) will result in an increase in the time period \(T\):
\[ T_{moon} = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{L}{g_{moon}}} > T_{earth} = 2\pi \sqrt{\frac{L}{g_{earth}}} \]
This indicates that the pendulum will take longer to complete one oscillation on the moon than it does on Earth.

4. **Conclusion about the Clock's Behavior**:
Since the clock operates based on the oscillations of the pendulum, if the time period increases, the clock will run slower. Therefore, on the surface of the moon, the clock will run slow compared to its operation on Earth.

### Final Answer:
On the surface of the moon, a clock will run slow.