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Learn the formulas and techniques for calculating weight from mass
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If you’re taking a physics class, you’ll probably be asked to calculate weight from mass. But how do you do this, exactly? We’ve got you covered. While it sounds tricky, calculating weight from mass is very straightforward if you know which formula to use. This article will teach you that formula, plus how to use it when you encounter physics problems in class. As a bonus, we’ve included some practice problems to help these concepts sink in. Keep reading to learn how to calculate weight from mass on your next physics quiz, test, or homework assignment.

What is the formula for weight?

Use the formula to calculate weight from mass. In this formula, = weight (in N), = mass (in kg), and = acceleration due to gravity (in m/s2).

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Calculating Weight

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  1. Use the formula to convert weight into mass. Weight is defined as the force of gravity on an object. Scientists put that sentence into an equation by writing , or .[1]
    • Since weight is a force, scientists also write the equation as .
    • = symbol for weight, measured in Newtons, N.
    • = symbol for mass, measured in kilograms, or kg.
    • = symbol for gravitational acceleration, expressed as m/s2, or meters per second squared.
      • If you're using meters, the gravitational acceleration at the Earth's surface is 9.8 m/s2. Always use m/s2 for acceleration, unless you’re instructed to do otherwise.
      • If you're asked to use feet, instead of meters, the gravitational acceleration on Earth is 32.2 ft/s2. This is the same unit, it's just converted from meters to feet. Luckily, you’re very unlikely to encounter a problem with acceleration written in ft/s2.
  2. Determine the mass of the object. Because we're trying to get weight from mass, we can assume we already have the mass. Mass is the fundamental amount of matter an object has, and is expressed in kilograms.
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  3. In other words, figure out what is. On the surface of the Earth, is 9.8 m/s2. Elsewhere in the universe, the acceleration of gravity is different.[2]
    • The gravitational acceleration on the moon is different from the gravitational acceleration on the Earth. Acceleration due to gravity on the moon is about 1.622 m/s2, or about 1/6 of the acceleration that it is here on Earth. That's why you weigh 1/6 of your Earth-weight on the moon.[3]
    • The gravitational acceleration on the sun is different from the gravitational acceleration on the Earth and moon. Acceleration due to gravity on the sun is about 274.0 m/s2, or about 28 times the acceleration that it is here on Earth. That's why you would weigh 28 times your Earth-weight on the sun (if you could survive!).[4]
  4. Now that you've got and , plug those values into the equation . You’ll get a number described in Newtons, or N.
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Part 2
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Sample Problems

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  1. An object has a mass of 100 kg. What is its weight on the surface of the Earth?
    • We know equals 100 kg, and equals 9.8 m/s2 (since this is the gravitational acceleration on Earth’s surface).
    • Plug these values into the equation: = 100 kg * 9.8 m/s2.
    • = 980 N. In other words, on the surface of the Earth, an object with a mass of 100 kg will weigh about 980 Newtons on Earth.
  2. An object has a mass of 40 kg. What is its weight on the surface of the moon?
    • We know equals 40 kg, and equals 1.6 m/s2 (since the gravitational acceleration on the Moon’s surface is 1.6 m/s2).
    • Plug these values into the equation: = 40 kg x 1.6 m/s2.
    • = 64 N. In other words, on the surface of the moon, an object with a mass of 40 kg will weigh approximately 64 Newtons on the moon.
  3. An object weighs 549 Newtons on the surface of the Earth. What is its mass?
    • For this problem, we have to work backward. We have and , but we need to calculate .
    • Set up the equation: 549 = * 9.8 m/s2.
    • Instead of multiplying * , we divide by . In other words, .
    • Plugging in our values, we get = 549/9.8 m/s2.
    • = 56 kg. In other words, an object weighing 549 Newtons on the surface of the Earth will have a mass of about 56 kilograms.
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Part 3
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Catching Mistakes

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  1. Remember that mass is the amount of "stuff" in an object, which stays the same no matter where you move it. Weight measures the force of gravity on that "stuff," which changes if you move through space. Try these mnemonic devices to help you memorize your units:
    • Mass is in units of grams or kilograms. Both mass and gram contain an . Weight is in units of newtons. Both weight and newton contain a w.
    • You only have weight while you're "wait"ing on Earth, but even "mass"tronauts have mass.
  2. Most physics problems use newtons (N) for weight, meters per second squared (m/s2) for gravitational force, and kilograms (kg) for mass. If you use a different unit for one of these values, your calculations will be incorrect. Convert all values to scientific units before plugging them into the standard equation. These conversions may help you out if you're used to the imperial / U.S. system:
    • 1 pound-force = ~4.448 newtons
    • 1 foot = ~0.3048 meters
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I get the gravitational force and multiply it by the mass?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Gravitational force is proportional the two bodies' masses and the gravitational constant and is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. F= (m1 (Earth)*m2 (observed body)*G(constant))/r/r. G= 6.67408 × 10-11 m3 kg-1 s-2. However, for the sake of weight we usually take the gravitational accelration (g) which is equal to 9.81 m/s/s, usually rounded to 10 m/s/s. G (gravitational force/weight) = g (gravitational accelration) * m (mass of the observed body). If you use both methods, the two Gs should be equal barring some rounding errors.
  • Question
    Does a scale measure weight or mass?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    It measures weight, because it measures the force gravity exerts on an object. But since we know what the gravitational constant is on Earth, we can convert that weight into mass (and many scales simply show the mass because they're calibrated to do so).
  • Question
    If the mass of an object is 25kg on earth, what will be its weight on the moon?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    The gravitational field strength of the moon is 1.6N/kg. This means that the weight of a 1kg mass object on the moon is 1.6N. Weight = mass x gravitational field strength Therefore, 25 kg multiplied by 1.6 N/kg, is 40 N.
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Addendum: Weights Expressed in kgf

  • A Newton is a SI-unit. Quite often the weight is expressed in kilogramforce or kgf. This is not a SI-unit, therefore less impeccable. But it is very convenient for comparing weights anywhere with weights on Earth.
  • 1 kgf = 9.8166 N.
  • Divide the calculated number of Newtons by 9.80665, or use the last column when available.
  • The weight of the 101 kg astronaut is 101.3 kgf on the North Pole, and 16.5 kgf on the moon.
  • What is an SI-unit? It stands for Systeme International d'Unites, a complete metric system of units of measurement for scientists.


Tips

  • The most difficult part is understanding the difference between weight and mass as people tend to use the words 'weight' and 'mass' interchangeably. They use kilograms for weight, when they should use Newton, or at least kilogramforce. Even your doctor may discuss your weight, when he meant to discuss your mass.
  • The gravitational acceleration g can also be expressed in N/kg. 1 N/kg = 1 m/s2 exactly. So the numbers remain the same.
  • An astronaut with a mass of 100 kg will weigh 983.2 N on the North Pole, and 162.0 N on the moon. On a neutron star, he'll weigh even more, but he probably won't notice.
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About This Article

Sean Alexander, MS
Co-authored by:
Academic Tutor
This article was co-authored by Sean Alexander, MS and by wikiHow staff writer, Johnathan Fuentes. Sean Alexander is an Academic Tutor specializing in teaching mathematics and physics. Sean is the Owner of Alexander Tutoring, an academic tutoring business that provides personalized studying sessions focused on mathematics and physics. With over 15 years of experience, Sean has worked as a physics and math instructor and tutor for Stanford University, San Francisco State University, and Stanbridge Academy. He holds a BS in Physics from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an MS in Theoretical Physics from San Francisco State University. This article has been viewed 1,396,496 times.
21 votes - 67%
Co-authors: 64
Updated: December 11, 2024
Views: 1,396,496
Categories: Classical Mechanics
Article SummaryX

To find weight when you already know the mass, use the formula weight = mass times gravitational acceleration. Remember that on the surface of the earth, gravitational acceleration is always 9.8 m/s^2, so simply plug in the mass and multiply it by 9.8 to get the weight in newtons. For sample problems and tips for checking your answer and catching mistakes, read on!

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