Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Gravitational mass refers to the measure of an object's response to the force of gravity. It determines how strongly an object is attracted towards another object due to gravity.
Inertial mass refers to the measure of an object's resistance to changes in its motion. It determines how difficult it is to accelerate or decelerate an object.
Newton's Second Law states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its inertial mass. It can be mathematically expressed as F = ma, where F represents the net force, m represents the inertial mass, and a represents the acceleration.
Weight is the force experienced by an object due to gravity. It depends on both gravitational mass and the acceleration due to gravity. Weight can be calculated using the formula W = mg, where W represents weight, m represents gravitational mass, and g represents acceleration due to gravity.