Combined Science - Physics - Key Stage 4 - Forces

Gravity, Mass, and Weight

Mr Saville
 Practice unit conversions

Describe and compare gravity, mass and

weight

Calculate weight

Complete your exit quiz

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Equipment list

Pen Calculator

Paper

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The kilonewton

1 kN is equal to 1000 N

Example conversions:

3 kN = (3 × 1000) = 3000 N

4.5 kN = (4.5 × 1000) = 4500 N

100 000 N = (100000 / 1000) = 100 kN

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Independent practice
1. Convert 4 kN into N

2. Convert 2000 N into kN

3. Convert 500 N in kN

4. Convert 10000 N in kN

5. Convert 3 N into kN

6. Convert 8.2 kN into N

7. Convert 0.4 kN into N

8. Convert 0.00072 kN into N

Independent practice
1. Convert 4 kN into N = 4000 N

2. Convert 2000 N into kN = 2 kN

3. Convert 500 N in kN = 0.5 kN

4. Convert 10000 N in kN = 10 kN

5. Convert 3 N into kN = 0.003 kN

6. Convert 8.2 kN into N = 8200N

7. Convert 0.4 kN into N = 400 N

8. Convert 0.00072 kN into N = 0.72 N

What is a gravitational force?
A gravitational field is the area around an object where another body
experiences a force.
Mass vs weight
Mass - kilograms (kg)

Weight - Newtons (N)

Weight acts at the centre of mass

Newtonmeter

Mass (kg) Weight (N)

0.1 0.98

0.2 1.96

0.3 2.94

0.4 3.92

Taken from Exampro

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 Mass and weight are directly proportional

Weight (N)

Mass (kg)

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What are the units for mass?

Newtons (N) Kilograms (kg) Joules (J)

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What are the units for weight?

Newtons (N) Kilograms (kg) Joules (J)

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What is mass?

The force that attracts two The effect of gravity on a The amount of matter in an
objects with a mass object object

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What is weight?

The force that attracts two The effect of gravity on a The amount of matter in an
objects with a mass object object

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How much is the gravitational field strength of
the earth?

98 N/kg 9.8 N/kg 0.98 N/kg

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When weight acts through a single point of an
object, we call this what?

Centre of weight Centre of gravity Centre of mass

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Equation

weight = mass × gravitational field strength

w =mg

weight, w, in newtons, N

mass, m, in kilograms, kg

gravitational field strength, g, in newtons per kilogram, N/kg (In any calculation the value of the
gravitational field strength (g) will be given.)
What is the equation for weight?

w=mxg w=m+g w=m/g

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What is the equation for mass?

m=wxg m=w/g m= g/w

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Convert 550 g into kilograms

55000 kg 0.55 kg 5.5 kg

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How many Newtons are in 2 kN?

0.2 N 2000 N 200 N

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 Example- I do
A toy car has a mass of 4.5 kg. Calculate the weight of the car, assuming 9.8 N/kg.

Values 4.5 kg 9.8 N/kg

Equation w=mxg

Substitute w = 4.5 x 9.8

Rearrange -

Answer 44.1

Units 44.1 N

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 Example- We do
A bicycle has a mass of 5.8 kg. Calculate the weight of the bike, assuming 9.8 N/kg.

Values 5.8 kg 9.8 N/kg

Equation w=mxg

Substitute w= 5.8 x 9.8

Rearrange -

Answer 56.84

Units 56.84 N

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 Example- We do
Calculate the weight of a person who has a mass of 80.1 kg, assuming 9.8 N/kg. Answer to 3
significant figures.

Values 80.1 kg 9.8 N/kg

Equation w=mxg

Substitute w = 80.1 x 9.8

Rearrange -

Answer 784.8 = 785

Units 785 N

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 Independent practice:
Calculate (1/2):
1. the weight of a 3 kg object in a gravitational field with a strength of 9.8 N/kg

2. the weight of a 5 kg object in a gravitational field with a strength of 9.8 N/kg

3. the weight of a 450 g object in a gravitational field with a strength of 9.8 N/kg Give your
answer to 2 significant figures.

Check your answers

1. 29.4 N
2. 49 N
3. 4.4 N
 Example - We do
Calculate the mass of a person who has a weight of 764.4 N, assuming 9.8 N/kg.

Values 764.4 N 9.8 N/kg

Equation W=mxg

Substitute 764.4 = m x 9.8

Rearrange m = 764.4 / 9.8

Answer 78

Units 78 kg

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 Independent practice:
Calculate (2/2):
1. the mass of an object 500 N object in a gravitational field with a strength of 9.8 N/kg. Give your answer to 3 significant
figures
2. the mass of an object 4500 N object in a gravitational field with a strength of 9.8 N/kg. Give your answer to 2 significant
figures.
3. the mass of an object 3298 N object in a gravitational field with a strength of 9.8 N/kg. Do this to 3 significant figures.
4. the gravitational field strength for a 135 kg object with a weight of 1325 N. Give your answer to 3 significant figures .
5. the gravitational field strength for a 5.75 kN object with a mass 874 kg. Give your answer to 2 significant figures.
6. the gravitational field strength for a 2.4 kN object with a mass 125 kg.
 Check your answers:
Calculate (2/2):
1. the mass of an object 500 N object in a gravitational field with a strength of 9.8 N/kg. Give your answer to
3 significant figures 51.0 kg
2. the mass of an object 4500 N object in a gravitational field with a strength of 9.8 N/kg. Give your answer to
2 significant figures. 460 kg
3. the mass of an object 3298 N object in a gravitational field with a strength of 9.8 N/kg. Do this to 3
significant figures. 337 kg
4. the gravitational field strength for a 135 kg object with a weight of 1325 N. Give your answer to 3
significant figures. 9.81 N/kg
5. the gravitational field strength for a 5.75 kN object with a mass 874 kg. Give your answer to 2 significant
figures. 6.6 N/kg
6. the gravitational field strength for a 2.4 kN object with a mass 125 kg.19.2 N/kg
Exam questions
 Question taken from Exampro

A newtonmeter measures the weight of an object. Look at the figure

to the right

What is the weight of the object in the figure?

5.5
Weight = _________________ N (1)

(c) An object has a weight of 6.4 N. Calculate the mass of the object.

Use the equation

mass = weight ÷ gravitational field strength (g)

gravitational field strength = 9.8 N / kg

___________________________________________________________________
Mass = 6.4 / 9.8

Mass = __________________
0.65 kg (1)
 Question taken from Exampro

(d) The mass of a bag of sugar is 1 kg.

● On Earth the weight of this bag of sugar is 10 N.

● On Mars the weight of this bag of sugar is 4 N.

Suggest why the weight of the bag of sugar is different on Earth and
on Mars.

___________________________________________________________________
Earth has a larger gravitational force than mars
___________________________________________________________________
(1)
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