What is the weight of an object?
Q: What is the weight of an object?
A: The weight of an object is the measure of the intensity of the force imposed on this object by the local gravitational field.
Q: How is weight different from mass?
A: Weight should not be confused with mass as weight is the measure of the force of gravity on an object whereas mass is the amount of matter present in the object.
Q: Where is the weight force directed for small objects on Earth?
A: For small objects on Earth, the weight force is directed towards the center of the planet.
Q: Where is the weight force directed for larger objects such as the Moon orbiting around the Earth?
A: For larger objects such as the Moon orbiting around the Earth, the weight force is directed towards the center of mass of the combined system.
Q: What has led to confusion between mass and weight?
A: Using the same terms to describe and measure the two different properties has led to confusion between mass and weight.
Q: Are mass and weight the same thing?
A: Mass and weight are not the same thing.
Q: Do objects with the same mass have the same weight?
A: Objects which have the same mass have the same weight. An object with twice the mass of another will also have twice the weight.
