NCCER Instrument Technician Practice Test

The term that refers to the force resulting from mass under gravity is weight. Weight is defined as the gravitational force exerted on an object due to its mass. It is calculated using the formula: weight = mass × gravitational acceleration. In the context of Earth, gravitational acceleration is approximately 9.81 m/s². This means that if you know the mass of an object, you can determine its weight by multiplying that mass by the acceleration due to gravity.

In contrast, mass is the quantity of matter in an object and does not change regardless of the object’s location. Acceleration refers to the rate of change of velocity of an object and is not directly a measure of force due to gravity. Density is the ratio of mass to volume and is a property of materials rather than a force. Understanding these distinctions helps in grasping fundamental concepts in physics, particularly those related to mechanics and forces.