Weight vs. Mass: Explaining the Difference

In summary, weight and mass are often used interchangeably in everyday language, but in physics, they have different meanings. Weight is the gravitational force acting on an object, while mass is the quantity of matter in an object. People may ask about weight in casual conversation, but it is important to understand the difference between the two terms in scientific accuracy.
  • #1
koiuuuuuuuuuuu
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0
Homework Statement
Explain the difference
Relevant Equations
Classwork
In class we do Science and I have faced with the problem between Weight and mass.
Tutor told us that the weight is the force that causes everything to move.
Mass is the kg .Why then, people ask other people what weight are you?
Explain please.
Thanks
 
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  • #2
koiuuuuuuuuuuu said:
Why then, people ask other people what weight are you?
Because there is a difference between common parlance and scientific accuracy.
 
  • #3
from the Internet:
Mass measures the quantity of matter regardless of both its location in the universe and the gravitational force applied to it. An object's mass is constant in all circumstances; contrast this with its weight, a force that depends on gravity.

Your mass on the Earth and the moon are identical. Your weight on the moon is about one-sixth of your weight on the earth.
 
  • #4
koiuuuuuuuuuuu said:
Tutor told us that the weight is the force that causes everything to move.
Weight is the gravitational force acting on the mass. (Which may or may not start moving.)
koiuuuuuuuuuuu said:
Mass is the kg .
Mass is measured in kg, while weight is measured in Newtons.
koiuuuuuuuuuuu said:
Why then, people ask other people what weight are you?
In everyday language, folks use weight and mass interchangeably. Since you're taking physics, you now know better!

But realize that weight and mass are proportional, so in everyday use it's all good: Weight = mass*g.
 
  • #5
Also note the existence of the unit kgf (kilopond or kilogram-force), which is the weight of 1 kg in standard gravity.
 

Related to Weight vs. Mass: Explaining the Difference

1. What is the difference between weight and mass?

Weight and mass are often used interchangeably, but they are actually two different physical quantities. Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object, while weight is a measure of the force exerted on an object by gravity.

2. Why is weight measured in pounds and mass in kilograms?

In the metric system, mass is measured in kilograms, while weight is measured in newtons. However, in the imperial system, weight is measured in pounds. This is because weight is often used in everyday situations to describe the force of gravity on an object, while mass is used in more scientific contexts.

3. Can an object have different weights on different planets?

Yes, an object's weight can vary on different planets because the force of gravity is different on each planet. However, the object's mass will remain the same regardless of its location.

4. How is weight calculated?

Weight is calculated by multiplying an object's mass by the acceleration due to gravity. On Earth, this is typically 9.8 meters per second squared (9.8 m/s^2). This formula is expressed as W = mg, where W is weight, m is mass, and g is the acceleration due to gravity.

5. Is there a relationship between weight and density?

No, weight and density are not directly related. Density is a measure of how tightly packed the particles in an object are, while weight is a measure of the force exerted on an object by gravity. Two objects with the same density can have different weights if they have different masses.

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