Fourth year of secondary education
The force of gravity
José Luis San Emeterio Peña
 F G 
All teaching units Print Home
Conclusions about mass and weight of bodies

 

   The mass of a body measures the quantity of matter that it contains, while the weight measures the force with which the planet attracts it.

   The weight of a body is the force with which the planet attracts it. Its value is: F=m·g  where g is the intensity of  gravity,  that is, the force experienced by the unit of mass. 

   Mass always has the same value, while weight depends on the value of g, which is not identical in all places.

   The scales measure mass, because on both sides the value of g is the same.
   The dynamometer measures force. If it is used to measure weight, it will give different values depending on the altitude of the place we are in or the planet we are on. 

   If you still don't understand the difference between mass and weight revise the experiment here. 

 

 

Objectives of the teaching unit
Falling bodies
Free fall in a vacuum
Free fall in the air
Falling kinematics
Conclusions
The mass and weight of bodies
The weight of bodies
The difference between mass and weight
Conclusions
Measuring the intensity of g
A simple measuring device
g is not a true constant
Conclusions
Gravity beyond the earth
The force of the tides
The movement of satellites
The solar system
Conclusions
Evaluation