International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) Physics Practice Exam

Weight is defined as the force exerted on an object due to gravity. The formula for calculating weight is derived from Newton's second law of motion, which states that force equals mass times acceleration (F = ma). In the context of weight, the gravitational field strength acts as the acceleration due to gravity, denoted by \( g \).

To find weight, you multiply the mass of the object (measured in kilograms) by the gravitational field strength (measured in newtons per kilogram, typically around 9.81 N/kg on the surface of Earth). Therefore, the formula is represented as:

Weight = Mass × Gravitational field strength

This means that the heavier an object (greater mass), or the stronger the gravitational pull (gravitational field strength), the greater the weight of the object. This relationship correctly explains why the answer is the multiplication of mass and gravitational field strength.