Ch 06: Dynamics I: Motion Along a Line

Knight Calc - Physics for Scientists and Engineers 5th Edition

Knight Calc5th EditionPhysics for Scientists and EngineersISBN: 9780137344796Not the one you use?Change textbook

Knight Calc 5th Edition

Ch 06: Dynamics I: Motion Along a Line

Problem 17a

Chapter 6, Problem 17a

A woman has a mass of 55 kg. What is her weight while standing on earth?

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Understand the relationship between weight and mass. Weight is the force exerted on an object due to gravity and is calculated using the formula:

W = m g

, where

W

is the weight,

m

is the mass, and

g

is the acceleration due to gravity.

Step 2: Identify the given values in the problem. The mass of the woman is

55

kg, and the acceleration due to gravity on Earth is approximately

9.8 m / s^{2}

Step 3: Substitute the given values into the formula for weight. Replace

m

with

55

kg and

g

with

9.8 m / s^{2}

in the formula

W = m g

Step 4: Perform the multiplication to calculate the weight. Multiply

55

kg by

9.8 m / s^{2}

Step 5: Express the result in units of Newtons (N), as weight is a force. The unit of force in the International System of Units (SI) is the Newton, which is equivalent to

kg m / s^{2}

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.

Video duration:

Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Weight

Weight is the force exerted on an object due to gravity. It is calculated using the formula W = mg, where W is weight, m is mass, and g is the acceleration due to gravity, which is approximately 9.81 m/s² on Earth. Thus, weight is dependent on both the mass of the object and the gravitational field strength.

Mass

Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object, typically measured in kilograms (kg). Unlike weight, mass does not change regardless of the object's location in the universe. It is a scalar quantity and is fundamental in determining the weight of an object when combined with the gravitational acceleration.

Gravitational Acceleration

Gravitational acceleration is the acceleration experienced by an object due to the force of gravity. On the surface of the Earth, this value is approximately 9.81 m/s². This constant is crucial for calculating weight, as it represents the strength of the gravitational pull acting on the mass of an object.

Recommended video:

Guided course

07:32

Weight Force & Gravitational Acceleration

Related Practice

Textbook Question

The position of a 2.0 kg mass is given by x = (2t³ - 3t²) where t is in seconds. What is the net horizontal force on the mass at t = 1s?

views

Textbook Question

It takes the elevator in a skyscraper 4.0 s to reach its cruising speed of 10 m/s. A 60 kg passenger gets aboard on the ground floor. What is the passenger's weight before the elevator starts moving?

views

Textbook Question

A 50 kg box hangs from a rope. What is the tension in the rope if: The box moves up at a steady 5.0 m/s?

views

Textbook Question

FIGURE EX6.19 shows the velocity graph of a 75 kg passenger in an elevator. What is the passenger's weight at t=1s? At 5 s? At 9 s?

views

Textbook Question

A 50 kg box hangs from a rope. What is the tension in the rope if: The box has v_y = 5.0 m/s and is speeding up at 5.0 m/s²

views

Textbook Question

It takes the elevator in a skyscraper 4.0 s to reach its cruising speed of 10 m/s. A 60 kg passenger gets aboard on the ground floor. What is the passenger's weight after the elevator reaches its cruising speed?

views