Mass & Weight Study Guide

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the fundamental concepts of mass, weight, inertia, and gravitational fields based on the lecture notes.

Mass

A measure of the quantity of matter in an object at rest relative to the observer, measured in $kg$.

Inertia

The property of an object that causes it to resist a change in its state of rest or uniform motion; it is directly related to the object's mass.

Weight

The force an object experiences in a gravitational field, measured in Newton ($N$), which always acts towards the center of the field's source.

Gravitational field

A region in which a mass experiences a force.

Gravitational field strength ($g$)

The force per unit mass, calculated using the equation $g = \frac{W}{m}$, with values like $9.8\,N/kg$ on Earth and $1.62\,N/kg$ on the moon.

Acceleration of free fall

A term equivalent to gravitational field strength, typically expressed with the units $m/s^2$.

Newton ($N$)

The unit of measurement used for weight and other forces.

Kilogram ($kg$)

The unit of measurement used for mass.

Beam balance

An instrument used to compare weights, and therefore masses, by equilibrating two arms; also called an equal-arm balance.

Digital balance

An electronic device used to determine the mass of an object or substance.

Force meter

Also known as a newton meter, this device is used to measure the weight of an object by hanging it freely.

Tare button

A function on a digital balance, often called the zero button, used to reset the display to zero after placing a container on the balance.

Subtraction method

A process for determining the mass of a substance using the formula: mass of substance = $(mass\,of\,substance + mass\,of\,container) - (mass\,of\,container)$.

Earth gravitational field strength

The value of $g$ on Earth, which is $9.8\,N/kg$.

Moon gravitational field strength

The value of $g$ on the moon, which is $1.62\,N/kg$.

Jupiter gravitational field strength

The value of $g$ on Jupiter, which is $24.79\,N/kg$.

Sun gravitational field strength

The value of $g$ on the sun, which is $274\,N/kg$.