Weight (gravitational force)

F = mg

Result unit: N

What it describes

Weight is the force with which a celestial body attracts a mass m. Do not confuse it with mass — mass is constant, weight depends on g.

F

weight (gravitational force)

[N]

m

mass of the body

[kg]

g

gravitational acceleration

[m/s²]

It follows directly from Newton's second law: force = mass × acceleration, where the acceleration is the g of the given body.

When you compute a normal (contact) force, the tension in a rope or a scale reading — on Earth or on another celestial body.

What is the weight of 80 kg on the Moon (g=1.62)?

SubstitutionF = 80·1.62

ResultF ≈ 130 N (on Earth ≈ 785 N).

Found this formula useful? Share it.

It's free — send it to a friend who's revising.

Teaching? Embed this formula on your site.

Free widget — paste it on your school site, blog or notes. It links to the full version.