MASS, WEIGHT AND

CENTRE OF GRAVITY

Abdur Rahman Butt

MASS
 Mass is a measure of substance in a body.
 Mass of the body will remain same everywhere.
 SI unit of mass is Kilogram (kg) and other units
are gram (g), milligram (mg) and tonne.
 Mass can be measured using beam balance and
electronic balance.
 INERTIA

 Mass of a body
resists change from
its state of rest or
motion, this is called
inertia.

 A body resists
changes in its motion
due to inertia. Greater
the mass greater
inertia.
Gravitational field
 Gravitational field is a region in which a mass experiences
a force due to gravitational attraction.

 Gravitational field on the surface of the Earth is 10N/kg.

This means that a gravitational force of 10N is exerted on
an object of mass 1kg. Near to the surface of the moon is
1.6 N/kg.

Relationship between mass, weight and

gravitational field Weight
Weight = mass × gravitational field strength.
W = mg
WEIGHT
 Weight of a body is the force exerted on a body
due to earth’s gravitational pull.
 SI unit of weight is newton (N).
Weight of an object can be measured by
using spring balance (newton meter).

Weight of a body varies in different

places. It depends on gravitational field
strength.
Example Question 1
The mass of an object on the Earth is 25Kg. Calculate the
weight of the object?

Example Question 2
On the Earth, the gravitational field strength is 10 N/kg.
On the Moon, the gravitational field strength is 1.6 N/kg.
If an object has a weight of 50 N on Earth, what is its
weight on the Moon?
CENTRE OF GRAVITY

 Two common ways to measure C.G:

1. Balancing on a knife edge
2. Using a plumbline
CENTRE OF MASS AND
CENTRE OF GRAVITY
CENTRE OF MASS OF REGULAR
SYMMETRICAL OBJECTS
CENTRE OF GRAVITY

 Two common ways to measure

C.G:
 Balancing on a knife edge
 Using a plumbline
LOCATING C.G OF IRREGULAR OBJECT
USING KNIFE EDGE METHOD
 Centre of Gravity of a ruler is in its
centre
LOCATING C.G OF IRREGULAR
OBJECT USING PLUMBLINE METHOD

Point of intersection is the C.G

 CENTRE OF MASS AND
STABILITY
 Stability is the ability
of the body to return
to its position when
tilted
 Lower C.G or
broader base helps a
body to be more
stable
 Which car will topple?
Mark (Mass 1) who weighs 140 pounds sits on a seesaw weighing 110
pounds at a distance of 60 inches from the fulcrum (the center of gravity of
the seesaw). Lucy (Mass 2) sits at a distance of 80 inches to the right of the
fulcrum in order to keep the seesaw in balance. How much does Lucy weigh

A. 105 pounds
B. 140 pounds
C. 100 pounds
THANK YOU