1.18 Weight equation
Weight is calculated from mass and gravitational field strength, linking downward force to kilograms and newtons per kilogram in force calculations.
- Syllabus
- 2024
- Objective
- 1.18
- Level
- —
Exam analysis
Chance of appearing17%of analysed past papers
Latest appearanceMay 2025
Most common paperPaper1P
Typical marks1–2
Common command terms
- Explain
- State
- Calculate
- Draw
Scoring notes
- Common mistake
- Using gravity as a label or quantity when the accepted term is weight or gravitational field strength.
Recent exam appearances
May 2025Paper1P [] · TZ010(b)[ 4 ]1.18 Weight equation
Jan 2021Paper1P [null] · TZ07(b)(iv)[ 4 ]1.18 Weight equation
Jan 2021Paper1P [null] · TZ07(b)(iii)[ 1 ]1.18 Weight equation
Jan 2021Paper1P [null] · TZ07(b)(ii)[ 1 ]1.18 Weight equation
Jan 2021Paper2PR [null] · TZ02(a)(ii)[ 1 ]1.18 Weight equation
Practice this objective
Coverage 2020–2025 · Updated 16 Jul 2026
1.18 Weight equation
Know and use weight = mass × gravitational field strength, W = mg.
Concept essentials
- Weight equals mass multiplied by gravitational field strength.
- Weight is a force measured in newtons, not a mass measured in kilograms.
- Mass can be found by dividing weight by gravitational field strength.
- A weight arrow acts vertically downwards.
- Small mass or force readings often require conversion before using W equals mg.