Mass, weight & gravity

We are working towards learning to:

Understand the difference between weight and
mass and the effect of gravity.
Understand that gratvity exists throughout the
Universe.

W h at D o You K n ow ?
1) What unit measures a force?
2) What is the difference between an

objects mass and an objects

weight?
3) What is gravity and what

direction does gravity act?

4) What unit do we measure gravity

in?

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Keywords
Gravity: Objects are attracted to each other.
Kilograms: 1000g = 1Kg
Mass: Measured in kilograms (Kg) and is the same
throughout the entire universe.
Weight: Mass x Gravity. Measured in Newtons (N)

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The effect of gravity

Gravity is a force that pulls objects
towards the center of the earth. Thats
why youre feet are on the floor

1 Draw an arrow at
each of the four
positions to show the
direction of the force
of gravity on the girl.
2 At position A the
girl is holding a ball
suspended from a
piece of string.
Complete the diagram
to show the position
of the ball and string
in locations B, C, and
D.
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1 Draw an arrow at
each of the four
positions to show the
direction of the force
of gravity on the girl.
2 At position A the
girl is holding a ball
suspended from a
piece of string.
Complete the diagram
to show the position
of the ball and string
in locations B, C, and
D.
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What is mass?
Mass is different from weight!
Mass is a measurement of how
much of something there is.
Mass is measured in grams
and kilograms.

Mass
The amount of matter or "stuff" it contains. The
more matter an object contains, the greater its
mass.
Example: An elephant contains more matter than a
mouse, so it has a greater mass.

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Starter
Which would you
rather have fall
1
1
Tonne on your head? Tonne
WHY?

Feather & Brick

The feather weighs less than the brick but a tonne
of feathers weighs the same as a tonne of bricks.
There will be other students that have the same
weight as you but you may be different heights and
a different gender.
Q) Which one would fall faster if dropped from
the same height?

Battle of the Brains

Years ago an Italian scientist; Galileo thought that objects would
fall at the same speed when dropped at the same height. He
tested his method by dropping two cannon balls from the
leaning tower of Pisa. The cannon balls were made of the same
material but one weighed 10lbs and the other was 1lb.
The Greek philosopher Aristotle thought
that heavy objects fell faster than lighter objects.
WHO DO YOU BELIEVE WAS RIGHT?

Youre
wrong
Galileo!

Time to bust a myth!

Watch the following video and see if
youre theory was correct

Galileo Vs.
Aristotle

So
The myth-busters found out that in a
normal atmosphere (on earth) air
resistance slows down the fall of
lighter objects.
Heavier objects are able to overcome
or beat the air resistance better than
lighter objects.

The mass of the PS3 console is: 3.2 Kg

What is its mass on Earth?
What is its mass on the Moon?

3.2 Kg
3.2 Kg

What is its mass in Space?

3.2 Kg

No matter where you are in this Universe,

the Mass of an object will remain the same

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Weight a minute
Weight is a measurement of force
Force is always measured in Newtons (N)
Weight (N) = Mass (Kg) X
Acceleration of Gravity
Whats my
weight?
(in Newtons!)

Mass = 1000Kg

Acceleration
of gravity:
9.8 m/s

Weight: (N)
Mass: (Kg)
Gravity: N/Kg

Weight

Mass

Gravity

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Calculate the weight!

1,600
N
Moon: Gravity =
1.6

8,800
N
Venus: Gravity =
8.8

10,400 N
Saturn: Gravity =
10.4

24,900 N
Jupiter: Gravity =
24.9

3,700
N
Mars: Gravity =
3.7

11,500 N
Neptune: Gravity =
11.5

Weight
Weight is a force and it is caused by the pull of
gravity.
Weight is measured in Newtons.

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Complete the worksheet 9Ja/1

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Complete the worksheet 9Ja/1

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Extension worksheet 9Jb/2

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Extension worksheet 9Jb/2

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Gravity

Gravity acts towards the centre of objects

Gravity is an invisible force that tries to bring
objects together
Gravity depends on two things: Mass and
distance
The bigger the mass of an object the
stronger its gravity
The further away an object is, the weaker
the gravity acting on it

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Gravity

Bigger
centre
Distance
force
further away
Gravity
gravity
Mass
mass
stronger
Weaker
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Gravity

Gravity acts towards the centre of objects

Gravity is an invisible force that tries to bring
objects together
Gravity depends on two things: Mass and
distance
The bigger the mass of an object the
stronger its gravity
The further away an object is, the weaker
the gravity acting on it

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Conclusion
The drawings show the mass and weight of four
objects on different planets

a) On which of the four planets is the object with the

largest mass?
b)How can you tell, from the drawings, that gravity is
greater on Earth than on Venus?
c) How is an astronauts weight and mass different on
the Moon and on the Earth
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