Gravity, Mass and Weight
Grade 8
Date: 31/12/2023
Topic 4 Lesson 4
Learning Objective
• To understand gravity, mass and weight.
Success Criteria
• To define gravity, mass and weight.
• To calculate mass or weight using gravitational field strength.
• To calculate the gravitational force
Starter Task – Mind Map
Pick one term - gravity, mass or weight – and write down everything you know
about it.
gravity mass weight
Gravity, Mass and Weight
Gravity, noun
The force of gravity prevents
everything from floating
away from earth.
Mass, noun
The amount of (matter)
something is made of.
Measured in kilograms (kg).
Weight, noun
The pull of gravity on an object
Measured in
newtons (N).
Mass vs Weight
In everyday language, we use the term weight when we are often describing mass.
In science, there is a clear difference in what these two words refer to.
Mass Weight
Mass is the amount of matter (stuff) Weight is a force which is the result of
that an object contains. gravity acting on an object.
Mass is measured in kilograms (kg). Weight is measured in newtons (N).
Mass is not affected by the Weight is affected by the gravitational
gravitational field strength and so field strength of a planetary body and
remains unchanged, whichever planet so can be different for the same object,
it is measured on. Mass can only be depending on which planet it is
changed by removing or adding matter measured on.
to the object.
Factors that affect gravity
1- Mass
The more mass the object has, the
greater the gravitational force
2-Distance
As distance increases , the
gravitational force decreases
Calculating Weight
We can find the mass of an object using a scale or
balance to find the value in grams or kilograms.
We can measure the weight of an object using a newton metre or spring balance.
Weight Equation
weight (N) = Mass x acceleration
Rearranged to find mass, the equation is:
mass (kg) = weight (N) ÷ acceleration
Rearranged to find acceleration, the equation is:
Acceleration = weight (N) ÷ mass (kg)
You could even put this into a formula triangle…
Weight Equation
weight (N)
W
÷ ÷
mass (kg) gravitational field
m × g strength (N/kg)
Energy , force , and motion
Force and motion are related to energy
Gravitational potential energy
It depends on the position of an object
Gravitational potential energy
Force and motion
Ex. Skydiver jumpes from a helicopter
The net force is a combination of
gravity and fluid friction
So the skydiver accelerates downward
Bec. Gravity is greater than air
resistance
***when he opens a parachute .the air
resistance increases to balance gravity
