Chemistry / Unit 1 Chem 0029 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Weight
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The idea
Weight is the force gravity exerts on an object's mass, changing wherever local gravity changes even though mass does not.
In practice
An astronaut's mass on the Moon equals her mass on Earth, but her weight is far smaller because lunar gravity is weaker.
Where people slip
Mass and weight are used interchangeably in speech; chemistry keeps them distinct because only mass stays constant when location changes.
Your place on the trail
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