Mass and weight are important ideas in physics that help us understand how things move.
What They Mean:
Mass (m): This is how much stuff is in an object. We measure it in kilograms (kg). The mass of an object stays the same, no matter where it is.
Weight (W): This is the pull of gravity on an object. We can figure it out with the formula: [ W = m \cdot g ] Here, ( g ) is the acceleration due to gravity, which is about ( 9.81 , \text{m/s}^2 ) on Earth.
How They Affect Motion:
Inertia: Inertia is a property of mass. It means that objects with more mass are harder to move. For example, a heavy truck (around 2000 kg) needs more force to speed up than a light bicycle (about 10 kg).
Gravitational Force: Weight tells us how strongly gravity pulls an object toward the Earth. For example, a 10 kg object weighs about: [ 10 , \text{kg} \cdot 9.81 , \text{m/s}^2 = 98.1 , \text{N} ] This means it feels a pull of about 98.1 Newtons.
Acceleration: According to Newton's second law, which can be written as: [ F = m \cdot a ] heavier objects need more force to speed up at the same rate as lighter ones. This idea helps us see how mass plays a role in how things move in different situations.
Mass and weight are important ideas in physics that help us understand how things move.
What They Mean:
Mass (m): This is how much stuff is in an object. We measure it in kilograms (kg). The mass of an object stays the same, no matter where it is.
Weight (W): This is the pull of gravity on an object. We can figure it out with the formula: [ W = m \cdot g ] Here, ( g ) is the acceleration due to gravity, which is about ( 9.81 , \text{m/s}^2 ) on Earth.
How They Affect Motion:
Inertia: Inertia is a property of mass. It means that objects with more mass are harder to move. For example, a heavy truck (around 2000 kg) needs more force to speed up than a light bicycle (about 10 kg).
Gravitational Force: Weight tells us how strongly gravity pulls an object toward the Earth. For example, a 10 kg object weighs about: [ 10 , \text{kg} \cdot 9.81 , \text{m/s}^2 = 98.1 , \text{N} ] This means it feels a pull of about 98.1 Newtons.
Acceleration: According to Newton's second law, which can be written as: [ F = m \cdot a ] heavier objects need more force to speed up at the same rate as lighter ones. This idea helps us see how mass plays a role in how things move in different situations.