Question
Question: How are the units of weight: \( kgf \) and \( newton \) related?...
How are the units of weight: kgf and newton related?
Solution
We will first try to understand the term what does weight mean. The weight is defined as a force that acts almost on everything on earth. It tells how heavy the object or substance is. It occurs due to the gravity of the earth. It also depends on the mass of the object.
Complete step by step answer:
The Earth pulls and exerts a force on every object which is down due to its gravity which is towards the centre of the earth. The magnitude of this force is defined as the product of the mass of the object and the magnitude of the acceleration due to gravity which is g=9.8m/s2 . Hence
⇒W=mg
Where W is known as weight, and m it is mass g is the gravitational acceleration.
As we know that the weight is a type of force hence the unit of weight can be given as newton N or kgms−2 .
Here also given another unit which is kgf , which means kilogram-force unit. The kgf is a non-standardized metric unit of force. It is equal to the force that is exerted on the object of one kilogram of mass. Hence kilogram-force can be considered as the force measurement unit. The kilogram-force is equal to the mass of one kilogram multiplied by gravitational acceleration.
Therefore the relation between the newton and kgf is given as
⇒1kgf=10N .
And that is the relation between kgf and newton as both are the units of weight.
Note: Most of the time, we always get confused between the quantity, mass, and weight. Mass is a fundamental property of any object. It is defined as the measure of inertia. While we know that weight is a type of force that is acting due to the gravity of the earth.