Weight
Weight
Weight (/weɪt/; from Old English weġht, related to weġan "to weigh") is a measurement of the force that gravity exerts on an object. Its unit is the Newton in the International System of Units (SI) and the pound in the British system.
Definition
The weight of an object is the force of gravity on the object and may be defined as the mass times the acceleration of gravity, w = mg. Since the weight is a force, its SI unit is the Newton (N). In practical terms, the weight is the quantity that is measured when one uses a scale.
Etymology
The word "weight" comes from the Old English weġht, which is derived from weġan, meaning "to weigh". The term was first used in the 14th century.
Related Terms
- Mass: In physics, mass is a property of a physical body which determines the body's resistance to being accelerated by a force and the strength of its mutual gravitational attraction with other bodies.
- Gravity: Gravity, or gravitation, is a natural phenomenon by which all things with mass or energy—including planets, stars, galaxies, and even light—are brought toward (or gravitate toward) one another.
- Force: In physics, a force is any interaction that, when unopposed, will change the motion of an object. A force can cause an object with mass to change its velocity.
- Newton (unit): The newton (symbol: N) is the International System of Units (SI) derived unit of force. It is named after Sir Isaac Newton in recognition of his work on classical mechanics.
- Pound (mass): The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Weight
- Wikipedia's article - Weight
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