Mass, Weight and Gravity
Mass, Weight and Gravity
Mass, Weight and Gravity
It might seem a bit odd, but it’s true — mass and weight are not the same thing.
The difference between them is all thanks to the force of gravity...
We ig ht alance.
changes, the weight of the mass will change. r or spring b
newton mete
measured
5) You can compare the weight of two objects using a balance Mass can be
alance
(an old-fashioned pair of balancing scales). The object with on a mass b
The letter “g” represents the strength of the gravity and its value is different for different planets.
On Earth g ª 10 N/kg. On the Moon, where the gravity is weaker, g is only about 1.6 N/kg.
1) On Earth, g ≈ 10 N. W =mg = 5 × 10 = 50 N
2) On the Moon, g = 1.6 N. W = mg = 5 × 1.6 = 8 N
Supplement