Question

Why is an object's weight dependent upon where in the universe it is located?

Answer 1

@whpalmer4

Answer 2

do you understand the difference between weight and mass?

Answer 3

um could you explain them to me?

Answer 4

well, mass is constant (we'll ignore the theory of relativity for the moment). you could think of it as the resistance to being moved — the larger the mass, the more force you need to apply to get a given acceleration.

Answer 5

Weight is the amount of matter in an object. Because gravity is a force, and force is proportional to weight, both gravity and weight vary in different places in the universe.

Answer 6

is this why?

Answer 7

gravity is a force that acts between two objects, and is directly proportional to the mass of each object, and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. So in low-earth orbit ("zero gee" or "zero gravity") you are essentially weightless, but you still have the same mass you have on the ground, or on the surface of the Sun, or on the surface of the Moon.

Answer 8

But because you are being acted upon by gravitational attraction by objects of much different masses, your weight (in other words, the attraction due to gravity) is much different. On the surface of the Moon, you weigh about 1/6th of what you weigh on the Earth at sea level. On the Sun, ignoring the temperature problems, you'd be quickly squashed flat because the mass of the Sun is so much greater that your body couldn't support its own weight.

Answer 9

does that make any sense?

Answer 10

oh yes thanks alot!

Answer 11

it's a bit tricky coming to grips with weight vs. mass. do you live in the US or elsewhere?

Answer 12

I ask because in the US, the pound is a measure of weight, and most people aren't as familiar with the kilogram, which is a unit of mass.

Answer 13

yup I'm a Us. girl:)

Answer 14

but everyone is happy to say "oh, I weigh 220 lbs, so that's 100 kg" (well, okay, you probably wouldn't be happy to say that particular sentence, I'm guessing! ;-)