Topic : Mass & weight.
Week 3 Resource Note
Learning Objectives :
1. Define both mass and weight and give their unit of measurement.
2. State and show that weight is a force and hence a vector quantity.
3. Show the differences between mass and weight.
Mass is the quantity of matter contained in an object. The Standard S.I unit of
measurement of mass is Kilogram (kg). The sub-multiple units for mass are cg, mg,
microgram, nanogram etc. While the higher multiples of mass is tonne (t) and Megatonne
(Mt). Mass is a scalar quantity.
Instruments for mass measurement include; Digital scale balance, Top pan balance, Beam
balance, lever balance etc
Weight is the force of gravity exacted on an object or a body. The S.I unit of
measurement is the Newton (N). Weight is a vector quantity. Instruments for weight
measurement include spring balance and Force Newton meter. Note that weight of a body
varies from place to place.
Lesson Starter : Have the students watch two video clips on Mass and weight using the
video link provided. Students give their opinion on what they are able to observe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFdbY_V7vIo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z0X0yE8Ioc
Keywords: Physical quantity, mass, weight, matter, system international unit
Note: 10mg = 1cg, 1000mg = 1g, 1000g = 1kg and 1000kg = 1 tonne
NOTE : W = mg where g = gravitational field strength given as 10N/kg as the unit.
Relationship between mass and weight
Weight is directly proportional to mass. Thus W = mg. The value for g on Earth is
10N/kg, in the Moon g = 1.6N/kg and in planet Mars g = 3.7N/kg
W ∞ m, This shows that W = mg. where g is the gravitational field strength given as
10N/kg. Weight is directly proportional to mass. W ∞ m, Thus W = mg
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W = mg, where g = gravitational field strength given as 10N/kg.
Thus W = mg. The value for g on Earth is 10N/kg, in the Moon g = 1.6N/kg and in planet
Mars g = 3.7N/kg Note: 1000g = 1kg. Also, mass in gram must be converted to kg
before conversion to w/eight.
Note that mass must be in kilogram before converting to Weight in Newton. Also
Gravitational field strength is the same as acceleration due to gravity.
Thus 10N/kg = 10m/s2.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MASS AND WEIGHT
MASS WEIGHT
Mass is the quantity of matter contained in Weight is the force of gravity acting on a
a body. body.
Mass is constant everywhere, mass Weight varies from place to place due to
measured on Earth is the same as mass the following reasons; Force of gravity g
measured in the moon. is not constant, the Earth is not perfectly
spherical, flattened at the poles and the
angle of tilt of the Earth on its axis as it
rotates about this axis.
Mass is a scalar quantity, since it has only Weight is a vector quantity; it has both
magnitude (size). magnitude (size) and direction. The
weight of a body acts vertically
downwards.
The S.I unit for mass is the kilogram (kg) The S.I unit for weight is Newton (N)
measured with the use of a Top pan measured with the use of a spring balance
balance, Lever balance or Beam balance. or Force Newton balance.
INERTIA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBjmO8w-QqU Video clip on Inertia
This is the resistance of any physical object to any change in its velocity or speed. This
includes changes to the object speed and direction of motion. Inertia is also the tendency
of a body to resist acceleration. This is the tendency of a body at rest to remain at rest or a
body in motion to stay in that motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an external
force. Thus the tendency of all objects or bodies to resist the change in their motion is
called Inertia. The cause of inertia is the resistance offered by the body or object to
change in its state of rest or in motion.
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Weightlessness
This is a condition experienced while undergoing freefall in which the effect of gravity is
canceled by the inertia force resulting from orbital flight. The term “Zero Gravity” is
often used to describe such conditions. Examples of situations where weightlessness is
experienced include a freely falling body, a body in a descending lift, and astronauts in
space. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9PtJIwi_jg video clip on weightlessness.
Earth orbiting Astronauts are weightless for the same reasons that riders of a freefalling
amusement park rider or a freefalling elevator are weightless. They are weightless
because there is no external contact force pushing or pulling upon their body. In each
case, gravity is the only force acting on their body.
CLASS ACTIVITY 1
Ques. 1. Briefly explain in tabular form the differences between mass and weight.
Ques. 2. Explain why the weight of a body varies from place to place.
Ques. 3. What is the relationship between mass and weight, hence give the expression
linking the two quantities.
Ques. 4. Briefly explain the term inertia.
Ques. 5. What is meant by the term weightlessness, hence give 2 situations where a body
experience weightlessness.
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