A lunar probe's scientific instrument package weighs 54 N when measured on the surface of the Earth. What would be its approximate weight when measured on the surface of the Moon?

The correct option is 9 N.

Weight is the gravitational force acting on an object, which depends on the acceleration due to gravity at a given location. The relationship between weight, mass, and gravitational acceleration is defined by the equation:

$W=m\times g$

where m is the mass of the object and g is the local acceleration due to gravity.

The surface gravity on the Moon is approximately one-sixth of the surface gravity on Earth:

$g_{\text{Moon}}=\frac{1}{6}{g}_{\text{Earth}}$

Because the mass m of the instrument package remains constant regardless of location, its weight on the Moon (W_Moon) is one-sixth of its weight on Earth (W_Earth):

$W_{\text{Moon}}=\frac{1}{6}\times W_{\text{Earth}}$

Given that the instrument package weighs 54 N on Earth:

$W_{\text{Moon}}=\frac{54\text{N}}{6}=9\text{N}$

Therefore, the package would weigh approximately 9 N on the surface of the Moon.