Question

Question #3df20

Answer 1

See below.

Explanation:

The weight of a stationary object near the surface of the earth is equal the product of the mass of the object and the gravitational (free-fall) acceleration constant, `g`. This is equal in magnitude to the force of gravity.

`W=vecF_g=mg`

Where `W` is the weight.

Weight is a force and can be given in newtons, where a newton is equivalent to one kilogram meter per square second:

`1 N= (1kgm)/s^2`

If using newtons, the mass of the object should be in kilograms. The gravitational acceleration constant, `g`, is equal to `9.8m/s^2`. So, if we are calculating the weight of a stationary object on Earth we would have units:

`W=mg=kg*(m/s^2)`

`=>(kgm)/s^2`

So, you should get units of newtons, `N`.

Multiplying `kg*N/(kg)` would get you the correct units. The difference is that this expresses the units of acceleration as `N/(kg)`, which is equivalent to `((kgm)/s^2)/(kg)=m/s^2`. It is not incorrect.