The weight formula is used to find the exact weight of the body in a specific gravitational field. Weight is a force experienced by any mass due to gravity. Newton is the SI unit of weight. W is used to indicate weight. The weight can vary depending on the force of gravity the body experiences.
What is the weight formula?
The weight of an object is the product of its mass and the acceleration due to gravity. The basic formulas for finding weight are: W = mg (Newton)
Where,
- W is the weight of the object in Newtons
- m is the mass of the object in kg
- g is the acceleration due to gravity. On Earth the value of g is 9.8 m/s2.
Let's look at the applications of the formula for finding weight in the next section.
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Example of a weight formula
Example 1:The mass of the body is 50 kg. Calculate the weight using the weight formula. (Hint: use g = 9.8 m/s2.
Solution:
To find the weight of the body.
Mass = 50 kg (given)
Use the formula to find the weight,
W = mg
B=50 x 9,8
B = 490 N
Answer:The weight of the body is 490 N
Example 2:If the weight of the body on the moon is 500N, determine its mass. The value of g on the moon is 1.62 m/s2.
Solution:
To find the mass of the body.
Weight of the body on the moon = 500 N (given)
Use the formula to find the weight,
W = mg
Mass of the body = W/g
Mass of the body = 500/1.62
Mass of the body = 308.64 kg
Answer:The mass of the body is 308.64 kg
Example 3:The mass of the body is 50 kg and the weight of the body is 490 N. Using the weight formula, prove that g = 9.8 m/s2.
Solution:
Assuming, g = 9.8 m/s2
Body weight = 490 N (given)
Mass = 50 kg (given)
Use the formula to find the weight,
W = mg
g = W/m
g = 490/50
g = 9,8
This showed that g = 9.8 m/s2
Frequently asked questions about the weight formula
What is 'm' in the weight formula?
The general formula for finding weight is given as W = mg (N/kg). Here 'm' represents the mass of the object.
What is 'g' in the weight formula?
The general formula for finding weight is given as W = mg (N/kg). Here 'g' represents the acceleration due to gravity. On Earth the value of g is 9.8 m/s2. It is also called the gravitational constant.
How do you calculate mass using the weight formula?
If the weight of an object is given, by using the general weight formula we can calculate its mass. It can be expressed as the product of the mass and the gravitational acceleration.
W = mg
M = B× g
M = Weight (kg). Here g is a gravitational constant with a fixed value (9.8 m/s2)
What is the formula to calculate weight?
To calculate the weight, we use the general formula below:
W = mg. Where 'W' is the weight of the object, 'm' is the mass of the object and 'g' is the acceleration due to gravity. On Earth the value of g is 9.8 m/s2.
