What's the difference between weight and gravitational force?

Weight is the force exerted on an object due to gravity, while gravitational force is the attraction between two masses.

Weight is a specific instance of gravitational force. It is the force exerted on an object due to gravity. The weight of an object can be calculated by multiplying the mass of the object by the acceleration due to gravity. This is often represented as W=mg, where W is the weight, m is the mass, and g is the acceleration due to gravity. Understanding the weight of an object on different planets can be further explored through the universal law of gravitation. The weight of an object can change depending on where it is in the universe, as the acceleration due to gravity can vary. For example, an object weighs less on the moon than it does on Earth because the moon has a smaller gravitational field.

On the other hand, gravitational force is a general concept that describes the attraction between any two masses. This force is always attractive and acts along the line joining the centres of the two masses. The gravitational force between two objects can be calculated using Newton's law of universal gravitation, which states that every particle of matter in the universe attracts every other particle with a force that is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between their centres. This principle is deeply connected with Newton's first law, highlighting the intrinsic nature of forces acting in the universe. This is often represented as F=G(m1m2)/r^2, where F is the gravitational force, G is the gravitational constant, m1 and m2 are the masses of the objects, and r is the distance between the centres of the two objects. For a deeper understanding of how distance influences movement and forces, exploring distance vs displacement can provide additional insights.

IB Physics Tutor Summary: Weight is the gravitational pull on an object, changing with location due to varying gravity. It's calculated as W=mg, with 'm' being mass and 'g' gravity's acceleration. Gravitational force, however, is the attraction between any two masses, described by Newton's law as F=G(m1m2)/r^2, where 'G' is the gravitational constant, 'm1' and 'm2' are masses, and 'r' is their distance apart.