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What is the relationship between weight and mass? Which is an intrinsic, unchanging property of a body?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The relationship between weight and mass is that weight equals mass times gravity (Weight = Mass x Gravity). The more mass an object has, the greater its weight given the unchanging gravity. Among these two, mass is the intrinsic, unchanging property of a body, as it remains constant irrespective of an object's location or condition.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding what mass is

Mass refers to the amount of matter in an object. It is a measure of how much stuff or substance an object holds and is measured in kilograms in the metric system or pounds in the imperial system.
02

Understanding what weight is

Weight, however, is the force that gravity exerts on an object. It is the measure of how strongly an object is pulled towards the center of the Earth or any other large body. Because of this, weight can vary depending on the gravitational pull at a particular location, and is measured in newtons in the metric system.
03

Identifying the relationship

The weight of an object is directly proportional to its mass. This means that the more mass an object has, the more weight it has. This relationship is typically expressed in the equation \( Weight = Mass \times Gravity \), where gravity is the gravitational constant, approximately 9.8 m/s^2 on Earth.
04

Identifying the unchanging property

Mass is an intrinsic, unchanging property of an object. It does not vary with location or condition. Whether an object is on Earth, on the moon, or anywhere else, its mass remains the same. Weight, in contrast, can change if the gravitational pull changes (as it would, for instance, if you were to go from the Earth to the moon).

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Weight and Mass Relationship
The relationship between weight and mass is foundational in understanding how forces work on objects. Mass refers to the amount of matter within an object. It's a constant property and is measured in units like kilograms or pounds. Weight, on the other hand, isn't a static measure. It's a force exerted by gravity on the object. Because weight is a force, it's measured in newtons. The relationship between weight and mass is expressed through the formula:
  • Weight = Mass × Gravity
This equation tells us that weight increases with increasing mass, assuming the gravitational pull remains constant. On Earth, gravity is approximately 9.8 m/s².
Intrinsic Properties
Intrinsic properties are characteristics of a material or object that do not change irrespective of external conditions or location. Mass is a prime example of such a property. It remains constant whether you're on Earth, on the Moon, or in outer space. This consistency makes mass an intrinsic, unchangeable property. Unlike mass, weight is not intrinsic. It varies because it's affected by environmental factors like varying gravitational forces. Understanding intrinsic properties helps in distinguishing changes that are due to different environments versus those that are inherent to the object.
Gravitational Force
Gravitational force is the attraction between two masses. It's what keeps us anchored to the Earth and dictates how much objects weigh. Gravity pulls objects towards each other at a strength dependent on their masses and the distance between them. This force is why objects fall to the ground and why planets orbit stars. The gravitational force on Earth is considered to be 9.8 m/s². Consequently, weight can change under different gravitational conditions, like being on the Moon, where gravity is much weaker, approximately 1.6 m/s². Gravitational force is a fundamental aspect of physics that explains a variety of natural phenomena.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A 120-kg astronaut is riding in a rocket sled that is sliding along an inclined plane. The sled has a horizontal component of acceleration of \(5.0 \mathrm{m} / \mathrm{s}^{2}\) and a downward component of \(3.8 \mathrm{m} / \mathrm{s}^{2} .\) Calculate the magnitude of the force on the rider by the sled. (Hint: Remember that gravitational acceleration must be considered.)

Suppose that you are viewing a soccer game from a helicopter above the playing field. Two soccer players simultaneously kick a stationary soccer ball on the flat field; the soccer ball has mass 0.420 kg. The first player kicks with force \(162 \mathrm{N}\) at \(9.0^{\circ}\) north of west. At the same instant, the second player kicks with force \(215 \mathrm{N}\) at \(15^{\circ}\) east of south. Find the acceleration of the ball in \(\hat{\mathbf{i}}\) and \(\hat{\mathbf{j}}\) form.

The weight of an astronaut plus his space suit on the Moon is only 250 N. (a) How much does the suited astronaut weigh on Earth? (b) What is the mass on the Moon? On Earth?

Identify the action and reaction forces in the following situations: (a) Earth attracts the Moon, (b) a boy kicks a football, (c) a rocket accelerates upward, (d) a car accelerates forward, (e) a high jumper leaps, and (f) a bullet is shot from a gun.

Two boxes, A and B, are at rest. Box A is on level ground, while box \(\mathrm{B}\) rests on an inclined plane tilted at angle \(\theta\) with the horizontal. (a) Write expressions for the normal force acting on each block. (b) Compare the two forces; that is, tell which one is larger or whether they are equal in magnitude. (c) If the angle of incline is \(10^{\circ},\) which force is greater?

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