What is weight in terms of physics?

Weight is defined as the force acting on an object due to gravity. This concept is rooted in the relationship between mass and gravitational pull. When an object has mass, it experiences a gravitational force towards the center of a planet or celestial body. In simple terms, weight can be calculated by multiplying the mass of the object by the acceleration due to gravity (usually approximated as 9.81 m/s² on Earth).

This distinction is essential, as mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object and does not change regardless of location, while weight is dependent on both mass and the strength of the gravitational field acting on that mass. The other choices, while related to physics, do not accurately describe weight or its essential characteristics. Understanding that weight is a force related to gravity helps in grasping fundamental principles of physics, such as how objects behave under various gravitational influences.