Home
Back
Weight Formula:
| From: | To: |
The weight formula (W = m × g) calculates the force exerted by gravity on an object. It's derived from Newton's second law of motion, where weight is the product of an object's mass and the acceleration due to gravity.
The calculator uses the weight formula:
Where:
Explanation: On Earth's surface, standard gravity is approximately 9.81 m/s², but this value varies slightly depending on location and altitude.
Details: Calculating weight is fundamental in physics and engineering applications, including structural design, mechanical systems, and understanding forces in everyday situations.
Tips: Enter mass in kilograms and gravitational acceleration in m/s². For Earth's surface calculations, use the default value of 9.81 m/s². All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: What's the difference between mass and weight?
A: Mass is the amount of matter in an object (constant everywhere), while weight is the force of gravity acting on that mass (varies with location).
Q2: Why is weight measured in Newtons?
A: Newtons are the SI unit of force, and weight is fundamentally a force resulting from gravitational acceleration acting on mass.
Q3: How does gravity vary on different planets?
A: Gravitational acceleration differs based on celestial bodies. For example, it's about 1.62 m/s² on the Moon and 24.79 m/s² on Jupiter.
Q4: Can I calculate weight in pounds using this formula?
A: This calculator provides results in Newtons. To convert to pounds, divide the Newton result by 4.448 (since 1 pound = 4.448 Newtons).
Q5: Is weight affected by altitude?
A: Yes, weight decreases slightly with increasing altitude due to the inverse square relationship in Newton's law of universal gravitation.