Weight Converter

Weight and mass are related but distinct concepts often confused with one another. Here’s a breakdown of the differences:

Mass
Definition: Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object. It’s an intrinsic property, meaning it doesn’t change based on location.

Units: Commonly measured in kilograms (kg) or grams (g) in the metric system.

Independent of Gravity: Mass remains constant regardless of where the object is in the universe.  An object with a mass of 1 kg on Earth has a mass of 1 kg on the Moon or in space.

Symbol: Usually represented by the symbol ( m ).

Weight
Definition: Weight is the force exerted by gravity on an object’s mass. It’s a measure of how strongly gravity pulls on an object.

Units: Measured in newtons (N) in the metric system because it’s a force (derived from the formula \( F = ma \)).

Dependent on Gravity: Weight changes depending on the gravitational field. For instance, an object weighs less on the Moon than on Earth because the Moon’s gravity is weaker.

Formula: Weight is calculated using the formula:
Weight = mass x gravitational acceleration (W = mg)

where  g  is the acceleration due to gravity approximately  (9.81 /s^2  on Earth).

Summary
Mass = Amount of matter (constant regardless of location).

Weight = Force due to gravity (varies with location).

In everyday language, people often use “weight” when they mean “mass,” but scientifically, they have distinct meanings. In any case the Weight Converter has been designed to allow you to convert between all of the units.