What is Weight?
Weight is the force exerted on a mass due to gravity. It is different from mass — mass is constant, while weight changes depending on the gravitational field.
Key Formula
Weight (N) = Mass (kg) × Gravity (m/s²)
1 Newton (N) = 1 kg·m/s²
Gravity on Different Planets
- Earth: 9.81 m/s² (standard)
- Moon: 1.62 m/s² (about 1/6 of Earth)
- Mars: 3.71 m/s²
- Jupiter: 24.79 m/s² (about 2.5× Earth)
Important Notes
- Weight is a force, measured in Newtons (N) or pounds-force (lbf).
- Mass is measured in kilograms (kg) or pounds (lbs) — it does not change with location.
- On the Moon, you would weigh about 1/6th of what you weigh on Earth, but your mass remains the same.