4.1 Force, Mass and Weight

What is mass?

A physical property of an object, which depends on the amount of matter it contains

What does a net(resultant) force do on an object?

It will make an object accelerate in the direction of a net force.

What's the equation relating net force F, mass m of an object, and acceleration a of an object?

F = ma

Force is measured in Newton (N)

Mass in kilograms

Acceleration is ms^-2

What are the differences between mass and weight?

Mass is measured in kg but weight is measured in N (kgms^-2)

Mass is constant for a specific object or particle

For weight, magnitude is variable, it depends on location.

What is weight?

The weight of an object on the surface of the Earth is the gravitational force acting on the object. An object in free fall has an acceleration g of 9.81 ms^-2.

What is the equation involving weight, mass and gravitational field strength?

W = mg