How is weight different from mass due to gravity?

Weight is a measure of the force of gravity on an object, while mass is the amount of matter in an object.

Weight and mass are two fundamental concepts in physics, but they are often misunderstood. Mass is a scalar quantity, meaning it only has magnitude and no direction. It is a measure of the amount of matter in an object, and it remains constant regardless of where the object is in the universe. For example, if you have a 1 kg apple, it will still be 1 kg whether it's on Earth, on the Moon, or floating in space.

Weight, on the other hand, is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction. It is a measure of the force exerted on an object due to gravity. The weight of an object can change depending on where it is in relation to a gravitational field. For instance, that same 1 kg apple would weigh approximately 9.8 N (newtons) on Earth, but only about 1.6 N on the Moon, due to the Moon's weaker gravitational field.

The relationship between weight and mass is given by the equation W=mg, where W is weight, m is mass, and g is the acceleration due to gravity. On Earth, g is approximately 9.8 m/s², but this value can vary slightly depending on location.

It's important to note that while mass is always expressed in kilograms (kg), weight is expressed in newtons (N) in the International System of Units (SI). This is because weight is a force, and the SI unit of force is the newton.

In conclusion, while mass and weight are related, they are not the same thing. Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object and is constant, while weight is a measure of the gravitational force on an object and can vary depending on location.