Weight

Weight is a measure of the force exerted on an object by gravity. It is a vector quantity, which means it has both magnitude and direction. In everyday life, weight is often confused with mass, but they are actually two different concepts. Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object, while weight is the force exerted on that object due to gravity.

Units of Weight

In the metric system, the standard unit of weight is the kilogram (kg). In the imperial system, weight is commonly measured in pounds (lb).

Calculating Weight

The formula to calculate weight is:

Weight = Mass x Gravity

Where:

• Weight is the force exerted on the object by gravity (in newtons or pounds)
• Mass is the amount of matter in the object (in kilograms or pounds)
• Gravity is the acceleration due to gravity, which is approximately 9.81 m/s² on the surface of the Earth

Study Guide

Here are some key points to remember about weight:

1. Weight is a force exerted on an object by gravity.
2. It is measured in newtons (N) in the metric system and pounds (lb) in the imperial system.
3. Weight is calculated using the formula: Weight = Mass x Gravity.
4. On the surface of the Earth, the acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.81 m/s².
5. Weight is different from mass, which is a measure of the amount of matter in an object.

Understanding the concept of weight is important in various scientific and real-life applications, such as engineering, physics, and everyday activities involving the measurement of mass and weight.

[Weight] Related Worksheets and Study Guides:

• MeasurementMathematics • Fifth Grade