0Weight is a form of measurement that is dependent on gravity and, unlike mass, your weight can vary depending on where you are in the universe.
Weight is a pretty important measure not only to dieters the world over but also to the scientists and egg heads who design things like space shuttles and boats - opposite end of the spectrum, but it's all about perspective.
But how can weight vary whilst mass has to remain constant? It's fairly simple: weight is a variable i.e. it can change based on the amount of gravitational pull an object exerts on a body. Scientists have defined weight using this equation:
Formula: Weight (W) = Mass (M) multiplied by gravitational acceleration (g). (W = mg)
Simple, right?
Some key points about weight
- The weight of an object changes based on where it is. If you've decided to visit the moon to test out this theory then you'll find that, in a matter of hours, you will have slashed your weight by two thirds (in your face, Slimming World!)
- Weight is a vector and its direction of pull is towards the centre of the planet you're stood on. What? Sorry, I did promise layman's terms: gravity, which is created by the mass of an object, moves towards the centre of the object and it is gravity that determines your, or any other object's, weight.
- The weight of any given object can go up or down depending on the amount of gravity acting on it. More gravity - the heavier the object. Less gravity - the lighter the object.
- Unlike mass, weight can be zero. An example of this is an astronaut floating in space - there's no gravity acting on his body and, therefore, he has no weight.
- Weight is commonly measured in Newtons.
