Is the Earth 4 times bigger than the Moon, or 50 times Bigger?

Question

This came up recently and I'd like to get a better consensus on what we consider "Bigger". To me when we talk about the size celestial bodies it is the Volume that matters. Everything is basically a sphere, so to just discuss things in terms of Diameter seems to be short sighted and not really understanding of what is real and important.

A Basketball and Tennis ball are fairly good stand ins for the Earth/Moon size relationship. Who would say that 4 tennis balls are equal to a basketball in size? So to say that the Earth is 4 times bigger than the Moon is, to me, sort of silly.  It would be like saying an elephant is twice the size of a man because and elephant is 12 ft tall.

The difference in the Volume of the Earth and Moon is 50 times.

I give you that the Earth has 4 times the Diameter of the Moon, but to say it's 4 times Bigger, or Larger would not be accurate.

We could talk in terms of Mass when discussing whats bigger in space, but I feel that since we're never going to go into space and lift anything, it wouldn't be a good way to discuss "How much bigger" is one object from another.

What say you???

? · Accepted Answer

I think diameter isn't usually used to compare sizes of celestial bodies, or solid bodies for that matter, anyway, so, I'd go with 50.

Anonyme · Answer

It's a matter of convention. When comparing the sizes of objects, it happens to be done on the basis of diameter. I think that's because we usually compare their size in the sky, which we perceive in 2 dimensions, unlike the elephant and the man playing basketball with a tennis ball : )

A note on volume: bear in mind that 50 volumes of the moon would fit inside Earth, but not 50 spheres of the moon, because the spheres don't fit neatly together. So that can be misleading as well.

? · Answer

4 x

Sharon · Answer

50

? · Answer

the diamter of ther Moon compared with that of the Earth is about 0.273. This value id pretty close to 3 / 11. This means that the diamter of the Earth is about 3.65 times larger than that of the Moon . in volume, yes the earth is close to 49 times larger.

? · Answer

i dont think of so!!!! that cant be a threat because of the fact u can purely fold a peice of paper around 7 cases some cases 6 some cases 8 yet no longer sufficient cases to prevail in the moon. no count how skinny the paper is u cant fold it extra beneficial than 7 or 8 cases.

? · Answer

4, i did this in class, but it is 50 times heavier

Rainbow Dash · Answer

The Earth is supreme ruler of the galaxy yet it is the size of a walnut.

Is the Earth 4 times bigger than the Moon, or 50 times Bigger?

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