Weight (OCR A Level Physics)

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Katie M

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Katie M

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Weight

  • Weight is the effect of a gravitational field on a mass
  • Since it is a force on an object due to the pull of gravity, it is measured in Newtons (N) and is a vector quantity
  • The weight of a body is equal to the product of its mass (m) and the acceleration of free fall (g)

 

Weight equation, downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes

  • g is the acceleration due to gravity or the gravitational field strength
  • On Earth, this is 9.81 m s−2 (or N kg−1)

Free fall

  • An object in free fall is falling solely under the influence of gravity
  • On Earth, all free-falling objects accelerate towards Earth at a rate of 9.81 m s−2
  • In the absence of air resistance, all bodies near the Earth fall with the same acceleration regardless of their mass

Mass v Weight

  •  An object’s mass always remains the same, however, its weight will differ depending on the strength of the gravitational field on different planets
  • For example, the gravitational field strength on the Moon is 1.63 N kg-1, meaning an object’s weight will be about 6 times less than on Earth

Mass vs weight, downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes

On the moon, a person's mass will stay the same but their weight will be much lower

  • The value of g on other planets in the solar system is given in the diagram below
    • Notice how much this varies according to the size of the planet

Gravitational field strength diagram, downloadable AS & A Level Physics revision notes

Gravitational field strength of the planets in our solar system

Worked example

The acceleration due to gravity on the moon is 1/6 of that on Earth. If the weight of a space probe on the moon is 491 N, calculate its mass.

Examiner Tip

  • It is a common misconception that mass and weight are the same, but they are in fact very different
  • Weight is the force of gravity acting upon an object
    • Weight is a vector quantity

  • Mass is the amount of matter contained in the object
    • Mass is a scalar quantity

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Katie M

Author: Katie M

Expertise: Physics

Katie has always been passionate about the sciences, and completed a degree in Astrophysics at Sheffield University. She decided that she wanted to inspire other young people, so moved to Bristol to complete a PGCE in Secondary Science. She particularly loves creating fun and absorbing materials to help students achieve their exam potential.