1.

3 MASS & WEIGHT

Learning Objective:
State that mass is a measure of the quantity
of matter in an object at rest relative to the
observer.

State that weight is a gravitational force on

an object that has mass.

Describe, and use the concept of, weight as

the effect of a gravitational field on a mass.

Know that weights (and masses) may be

compared using a balance.
 MASS WEIGHT
A measure of the A gravitational force on
quantity of matter in an object that has mass.
an object at rest relative Effect of a gravitational
to the observer. field on a mass.
Scalar quantity Vector quantity
(downward, towards the centre of the Earth)

Unit: Unit:
kilogram (kg) – SI newton (N) – SI
gram (g)
Independent of the Dependent on the
gravitational field gravitational field
strength. strength.
 MASS WEIGHT
Measured with: Measured with:
• Beam balance • Spring balance
• Electronic balance

Can never be equal to Can be equal to zero.

zero.
Stays the same no Weigh less if you are in
matter where you are. space than on Earth.
Learning Objective:
Define gravitational field strength as force
per unit mass.
Recall and use equation g = W/m
 Gravitational Field
A region of space in which a mass exert a
force of attraction on another mass.

Gravitational Field Strength

Gravitational force per unit mass
𝑊
𝑔=
𝑚
g = 9.8 N/kg (Earth)
g = 1.6 N/kg (Moon)
 Mass & Weight

My WEIGHT on
Earth is around
549N
 Video
Mass vs Weight (Eureka)
 Video
Mass vs Weight