2006-08-30 00:23:47 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
I can't add more to what kemchan has said. Weight is measured in Newtons, mass is measured in kgs. People in everyday life confise the two.
I don't know about pounds, but I suspect it's for mass too
2006-08-30 00:30:23 · answer #1 · answered by hec 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The inverse square law (for gravity) indicates that the gravitational attraction of the earth for another body (the moon or a weight on its surface) depends on the distance between the centers of gravity of the two bodies. A one kg mass is constant anywhere in the universe (it would always have the same total number of atoms) but the force it exerts depressing the helical springs of a scale depends on how close it is to the earth's center of gravity. If the earth could shrink while maintaining its total mass, the "weight" indicated for a one kg mass would increase as the diameter of the earth decreased. In fact the one kg mass weighs slightly less at the top of a mountain and slightly more below sea level (in Death Valley?). The one kg mass would weigh even less on the same scale if taken to our much less massive moon. Because the one kilogram mass is most often weighed on the surface of the earth it is said to exert a one kilogram force on the scale there; but if taken to the space station orbiting the earth it would still be a one kg mass but would register zero weight on the scale. Hope that helps a little.
2006-08-30 01:16:16 · answer #2 · answered by Kes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
kg is the unit of mass and newton is the unit of force.
Weight is the force with which a mass is pulled down by earth.
If m is the mass in kilogram of a body then the weight is mg. g is always constant.
A 10 kg mass will weigh 10 x g newton. In a short form it is said 10 kg force or 10kgf meaning that it is 10x 9.8 newton.
Therfore the weight of a blody is not kg but kgf.
1kgf = 9.8 newton.
A mass of 1kg will have a weight 1kgf or g newton.
2006-08-30 01:48:10 · answer #3 · answered by Pearlsawme 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
physicists would measure weight in Newtons. A Newton is the force felt by a MASS of 1 kilogram, on the surface of the earth. So a MASS of 1 kilogram has a WEIGHT of about 9.81 Newtons (since g is 9.81 meters per second squared, on average).
in everyday life we all say, "I weigh 74 kilos", but the proper way would be to say, either "my mass is 74 kilos", or "I weigh 726 Newtons".
in the US the situation is a bit better, because the pound IS indeed a unit of force, so it is correct to say, "I weigh 163 pounds". No the problem here, is that g, in the US, is 32 feet per second squared, so the unit of mass weighs 32 pounds, which is a lot and is quite inconvenient (for this reason this unit, the "slug", is about only used for bowling balls).
hope this helps
a
2006-08-30 01:32:20 · answer #4 · answered by AntoineBachmann 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because on earth. with gravity being 32 feet per second squared. the kg (mass) measurement is also the weight.
You would have the same kg (mass) measurement on the moon but it wouldn't weigh the same.
In other words, if you accelerated 1 kg on a frictionless plane, it would require a force of F equal to Mass (times) the acceleration.
(F = MA)
that formula would be the same on the moon because the mass of 1 kg would be the same. but it would not weigh the same on the moon cause the acceleration of gravity is not the same.
tom
2006-08-30 00:53:33 · answer #5 · answered by a1tommyL 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Weight is the FORCE with which Earth( or any other celestial body for that matter ) attracts an object.
Whereas Mass is the AMOUNT of substance present in the object.
So weight is measured in NEWTONS because it is a force.
And mass being a property of the object is measured in Kg.
For further info , in FPS system unit of weight is 'lbf' or pound - force.
And the unit of mass is 'lbm' or pound - mass.
2006-08-30 00:59:33 · answer #6 · answered by javed khan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Umm, kilograms is the metric unit for measuring weight. Only the United States uses "pounds".
2006-08-30 00:27:39 · answer #7 · answered by surfinthedesert 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Weight is not measured in kg, it is measured in Newtons or pounds...mass is measured in kg. Sometimes, people confused the two...
2006-08-30 00:26:20 · answer #8 · answered by kemchan2 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We are all being sloppy with our terminology......but because the force of gravity is the same wherever you are on earth we might as well equate the mass of an object with the weight-force of the object.
If the gravitational force is (virtually) constant then we might as well discount it's effect on objects on planet earth and talk about an object's weight and mass interchangeably.
2006-08-30 00:36:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
who said weight is the force.. ??
with the help of the weight we apply the force which is measured in newtons(N) adn mass of a body is measured in kg.s
if v have no weight there wud be no force applied...
2006-08-30 00:29:31 · answer #10 · answered by Priya C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋