Force vs. Weight — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 28, 2024
Force is a general term for any push or pull, affecting an object's state of motion, while weight is the specific force of gravity acting on an object's mass.
Difference Between Force and Weight
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Force represents an interaction that, when unopposed, changes the motion of an object. It can be a push or a pull resulting from the interaction between two objects and is measured in Newtons (N). On the other hand, weight is the force exerted by gravity on an object's mass, specifically directed towards the center of a gravitating body, like Earth, and is also measured in Newtons in the SI system.
While force can act in any direction and come from various sources such as friction, tension, or a magnetic field weight always acts downward, towards the center of the Earth or another celestial body. This directionality of weight is a key distinction, highlighting how weight is a specific type of force influenced by both the object’s mass and the gravitational acceleration of the Earth or other astronomical body.
The magnitude of a force can vary widely and depends on the nature of the force applied. For example, the force required to lift a book differs from the force of a car's engine propelling it forward. In contrast, the weight of an object is a specific calculation based on its mass and the local gravitational acceleration, which is approximately 9.8 m/s^2 on the surface of the Earth. This makes weight a more standardized measure of force under the influence of gravity.
An object’s force interactions can change based on various factors, such as velocity or the presence of other forces acting upon it. Weight, however, remains constant as long as the mass of the object and the gravitational field strength in which it is located do not change. This constancy is why an object's weight is the same regardless of its state of motion, provided it remains within the same gravitational field.
The concept of force is foundational in understanding the laws of motion and the interaction of objects, serving a broad scope in physics. Weight, while a specific instance of force, is crucial in understanding gravitational effects on mass and is often more relevant in everyday contexts, such as weighing objects or considering the load capacity of structures.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Interaction changing an object’s motion
Gravity’s force on an object’s mass
Direction
Can be in any direction
Always directed towards the center of gravity
Measured in
Newtons (N)
Newtons (N)
Depends on
Nature of the interaction
Object's mass and gravitational acceleration
Variability
Can change based on interactions
Constant in a given gravitational field
Compare with Definitions
Force
Can be frictional, tensional, normal, air resistance, or gravitational.
Frictional force prevents the book from sliding off the desk.
Weight
The force of gravity acting on an object's mass.
The weight of the apple is the force with which it is drawn to the Earth.
Force
Quantified in Newtons (N).
The engine exerts a force of 400 N to move the car forward.
Weight
Also measured in Newtons (N), considering local gravity.
An object with a mass of 10 kg has a weight of about 98 N on Earth.
Force
Affects both stationary and moving objects.
The force of the bat hitting the ball sends it flying.
Weight
Directly proportional to the object's mass and the gravitational field strength.
An astronaut's weight on the Moon is less than on Earth due to lower gravity.
Force
An interaction that changes an object's state of motion.
The force applied to the door opened it.
Weight
Always directed towards the center of the gravitational field.
The weight of the diver pulls him towards the bottom of the ocean.
Force
Acts in the direction of the applied push or pull.
The force of the wind pushed the sailboat across the lake.
Weight
Remains constant in a uniform gravitational field.
Your weight on Earth's surface remains relatively constant regardless of location.
Force
In physics, a force is any influence that, when unopposed, will change the motion of an object. A force can cause an object with mass to change its velocity (which includes to begin moving from a state of rest), i.e., to accelerate.
Weight
In science and engineering, the weight of an object is the force acting on the object due to gravity.Some standard textbooks define weight as a vector quantity, the gravitational force acting on the object. Others define weight as a scalar quantity, the magnitude of the gravitational force.
Force
Strength or energy as an attribute of physical action or movement
He was thrown backwards by the force of the explosion
Weight
A measure of the heaviness of an object
A contest to guess the weight of a pig.
Force
Coercion or compulsion, especially with the use or threat of violence
They ruled by law and not by force
Weight
The force with which a body is attracted to Earth or another celestial body, equal to the product of the object's mass and the acceleration of gravity.
Force
Mental or moral strength or power
The force of popular opinion
Weight
A unit measure of gravitational force
A table of weights and measures.
Force
An organized body of military personnel or police
A British peacekeeping force
Weight
A system of such measures
Avoirdupois weight.
Troy weight.
Force
A waterfall.
Weight
A metallic solid used as a standard of comparison in weighing.
Force
Make a way through or into by physical strength; break open by force
The back door of the bank was forced
Weight
An object used to hold something else down.
Force
Make (someone) do something against their will
The universities were forced to cut staff
She was forced into early retirement
Weight
A counterbalance in a machine.
Force
The capacity to do work or cause physical change; energy, strength, or active power
The force of an explosion.
Weight
(Sports) A heavy object, such as a dumbbell, lifted for exercise or in athletic competition.
Force
Power made operative against resistance; exertion
Use force in driving a nail.
Weight
Excessive fat; corpulence
Exercising in order to lose weight.
Force
The use of physical power or violence to compel or restrain
A confession obtained by force.
Weight
(Statistics) A factor assigned to a number in a computation, as in determining an average, to increase or decrease the number's effect on the computation, reflecting its importance.
Force
Intellectual power or vigor, especially as conveyed in writing or speech.
Weight
Oppressiveness; pressure
The weight of responsibilities.
Force
Moral strength.
Weight
The greater part; preponderance
The weight of the evidence is against the defendant.
Force
A capacity for affecting the mind or behavior; efficacy
The force of logical argumentation.
Weight
Influence, importance, or authority
Her approval carried great weight.
Force
One that possesses such capacity
The forces of evil.
Weight
Ponderous quality
The weight of the speaker's words.
Force
A body of persons or other resources organized or available for a certain purpose
A large labor force.
Weight
(Sports) A classification according to comparative lightness or heaviness. Often used in combination
A heavyweight boxer.
Force
A person or group capable of influential action
A retired senator who is still a force in national politics.
Weight
The heaviness or thickness of a fabric in relation to a particular season or use. Often used in combination
A summerweight jacket.
Force
Military strength.
Weight
A measure of the relative thickness of yarn.
Force
A unit of a nation's military personnel, especially one deployed into combat
Our armed forces have at last engaged the enemy.
Weight
To make heavy or heavier
Our backpacks were weighted down with food and other essentials.
Force
A vector quantity indicating the strength and direction of the capacity to accelerate a body. Newton's second law of motion states that a free body accelerates in the direction of the net force and that its acceleration is directly proportional to the force and inversely proportional to its mass.
Weight
To cause to feel concerned, sad, or preoccupied; burden or oppress
He was weighted with guilt.
Force
See fundamental force.
Weight
To increase the weight or body of (fabrics) by treating with chemicals.
Force
(Baseball) A force play.
Weight
(Statistics) To assign weights or a weight to.
Force
To compel through pressure or necessity
I forced myself to practice daily. He was forced to take a second job.
Weight
To cause to have a slant or bias
Weighted the rules in favor of homeowners.
Force
To gain by the use of force or coercion
Force a confession.
Weight
(Sports) To assign to (a horse) the weight it must carry as a handicap in a race.
Force
To move or effect against resistance or inertia
Forced my foot into the shoe.
Weight
The force on an object due to the gravitational attraction between it and the Earth (or whatever astronomical object it is primarily influenced by).
Force
To inflict or impose relentlessly
He forced his ideas upon the group.
Weight
An object used to make something heavier.
Force
To put undue strain on
She forced her voice despite being hoarse.
Weight
A standardized block of metal used in a balance to measure the mass of another object.
Force
To increase or accelerate (a pace, for example) to the maximum.
Weight
Importance or influence.
Force
To produce with effort and against one's will
Force a laugh in spite of pain.
Weight
(weightlifting) An object, such as a weight plate or barbell, used for strength training.
He's working out with weights.
Force
To use (language) with obvious lack of ease and naturalness.
Weight
(lubricants) viscosity rating.
Force
To move, open, or clear by force
Forced our way through the crowd.
Weight
(physics) Mass (atomic weight, molecular weight, etc.) in restricted circumstances
Force
To break down or open by force
Force a lock.
Weight
Synonym of mass}} {{qualifier
Force
To rape.
Weight
(measurement) Mass (net weight, troy weight, carat weight, etc.).
Force
To induce change in (a complex system) by changing one of its parameters
Greenhouse gases that force the earth's climate.
Weight
(statistics) A variable which multiplies a value for ease of statistical manipulation.
Force
(Botany) To cause to grow or mature by artificially accelerating normal processes.
Weight
(topology) The smallest cardinality of a base.
Force
To put (a runner) out on a force play.
Weight
(typography) The boldness of a font; the relative thickness of its strokes.
Force
To allow (a run) to be scored by walking a batter when the bases are loaded.
Weight
(visual art) The relative thickness of a drawn rule or painted brushstroke, line weight.
Force
(Games) To cause an opponent to play (a particular card).
Weight
(visual art) The illusion of mass.
Force
Strength or energy of body or mind; active power; vigour; might; capacity of exercising an influence or producing an effect.
The force of an appeal, an argument, or a contract
Weight
(visual art) The thickness and opacity of paint.
Force
Power exerted against will or consent; compulsory power; violence; coercion.
Weight
Pressure; burden.
The weight of care or business
Force
(countable) Anything that is able to make a substantial change in a person or thing.
Weight
The resistance against which a machine acts, as opposed to the power which moves it.
Force
A physical quantity that denotes ability to push, pull, twist or accelerate a body and which has a direction and is measured in a unit dimensioned in mass × distance/time² (ML/T²): SI: newton (N); CGS: dyne (dyn)
Weight
Shipments of (often illegal) drugs.
He was pushing weight.
Force
Something or anything that has the power to produce a physical effect upon something else, such as causing it to move or change shape.
Weight
One pound of drugs, especially cannabis.
Force
(countable) A group that aims to attack, control, or constrain.
Reinforcemented increased the American force in the area to 9,000
Police force
Weight
Money.
Force
(uncountable) The ability to attack, control, or constrain.
Show of force
Weight
Weight class
Force
(countable) A magic trick in which the outcome is known to the magician beforehand, especially one involving the apparent free choice of a card by another person.
Weight
(transitive) To add weight to something; to make something heavier.
Force
(legal) Legal validity.
The law will come into force in January.
Weight
To load (fabrics) with barite, etc. to increase the weight.
Force
(legal) Either unlawful violence, as in a "forced entry", or lawful compulsion.
Weight
(transitive) To load, burden or oppress someone.
Force
Ability of an utterance or its element (word, form, prosody, ...) to effect a given meaning.
Weight
To assign weights to individual statistics.
Force
|often|capitalized}}Star Wars A metaphysical and ubiquitous power from the fictional Star Wars universe created by George Lucas. See usage note.
Weight
(transitive) To bias something; to slant.
Force
Synonym of police force
Weight
To handicap a horse with a specified weight.
Force
A waterfall or cascade.
Weight
To give a certain amount of force to a throw, kick, hit, etc.
Force
(transitive) To violate (a woman); to rape.
Weight
The quality of being heavy; that property of bodies by which they tend toward the center of the earth; the effect of gravitative force, especially when expressed in certain units or standards, as pounds, grams, etc.
Force
To exert oneself, to do one's utmost.
Weight
The quantity of heaviness; comparative tendency to the center of the earth; the quantity of matter as estimated by the balance, or expressed numerically with reference to some standard unit; as, a mass of stone having the weight of five hundred pounds.
For sorrow, like a heavy-hanging bell,Once set on ringing, with his own weight goes.
Force
(transitive) To compel (someone or something) to do something.
Weight
Hence, pressure; burden; as, the weight of care or business.
For the public all this weight he bears.
[He] who singly bore the world's sad weight.
Force
(transitive) To constrain by force; to overcome the limitations or resistance of.
Weight
Importance; power; influence; efficacy; consequence; moment; impressiveness; as, a consideration of vast weight.
In such a point of weight, so near mine honor.
Force
(transitive) To drive (something) by force, to propel (generally + prepositional phrase or adverb).
Weight
A scale, or graduated standard, of heaviness; a mode of estimating weight; as, avoirdupois weight; troy weight; apothecaries' weight.
Force
(transitive) To cause to occur (despite inertia, resistance etc.); to produce through force.
The comedian's jokes weren't funny, but I forced a laugh now and then.
Weight
A ponderous mass; something heavy; as, a clock weight; a paper weight.
A man leapeth better with weights in his hands.
Force
(transitive) To forcibly open (a door, lock etc.).
To force a lock.
Weight
A definite mass of iron, lead, brass, or other metal, to be used for ascertaining the weight of other bodies; as, an ounce weight.
Force
To obtain or win by strength; to take by violence or struggle; specifically, to capture by assault; to storm, as a fortress.
Weight
The resistance against which a machine acts, as opposed to the power which moves it.
Force
To create an out by touching a base in advance of a runner who has no base to return to while in possession of a ball which has already touched the ground.
Jones forced the runner at second by stepping on the bag.
Weight
To load with a weight or weights; to load down; to make heavy; to attach weights to; as, to weight a horse or a jockey at a race; to weight a whip handle.
The arrows of satire, . . . weighted with sense.
Force
(whist) To compel (an adversary or partner) to trump a trick by leading a suit that he/she does not hold.
Weight
To assign a weight to; to express by a number the probable accuracy of, as an observation. See Weight of observations, under Weight.
Force
(archaic) To put in force; to cause to be executed; to make binding; to enforce.
Weight
To load (fabrics) as with barite, to increase the weight, etc.
Force
(archaic) To provide with forces; to reinforce; to strengthen by soldiers; to man; to garrison.
Weight
To assign a numerical value expressing relative importance to (a measurement), to be multiplied by the value of the measurement in determining averages or other aggregate quantities; as, they weighted part one of the test twice as heavily as part 2.
Force
(obsolete) To allow the force of; to value; to care for.
Weight
The vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
Force
To stuff; to lard; to farce.
Weight
Sports equipment used in calisthenic exercises and weightlifting; a weight that is not attached to anything and is raised and lowered by use of the hands and arms
Force
To stuff; to lard; to farce.
Wit larded with malice, and malice forced with wit.
Weight
The relative importance granted to something;
His opinion carries great weight
Force
To constrain to do or to forbear, by the exertion of a power not resistible; to compel by physical, moral, or intellectual means; to coerce; as, masters force slaves to labor.
Weight
An artifact that is heavy
Force
To compel, as by strength of evidence; as, to force conviction on the mind.
Weight
An oppressive feeling of heavy force;
Bowed down by the weight of responsibility
Force
To do violence to; to overpower, or to compel by violence to one's will; especially, to ravish; to violate; to commit rape upon.
To force their monarch and insult the court.
I should have forced thee soon wish other arms.
To force a spotless virgin's chastity.
Weight
A system of units used to express the weight of something
Force
To obtain, overcome, or win by strength; to take by violence or struggle; specifically, to capture by assault; to storm, as a fortress; as, to force the castle; to force a lock.
Weight
A unit used to measure weight;
He placed two weights in the scale pan
Force
To impel, drive, wrest, extort, get, etc., by main strength or violence; - with a following adverb, as along, away, from, into, through, out, etc.
It stuck so fast, so deeply buried layThat scarce the victor forced the steel away.
To force the tyrant from his seat by war.
Ethelbert ordered that none should be forced into religion.
Weight
(statistics) a coefficient assigned to elements of a frequency distribution in order to represent their relative importance
Force
To put in force; to cause to be executed; to make binding; to enforce.
What can the church force more?
Weight
Weight down with a load
Force
To exert to the utmost; to urge; hence, to strain; to urge to excessive, unnatural, or untimely action; to produce by unnatural effort; as, to force a conceit or metaphor; to force a laugh; to force fruits.
High on a mounting wave my head I bore,Forcing my strength, and gathering to the shore.
Weight
Present with a bias;
He biased his presentation so as to please the share holders
Force
To compel (an adversary or partner) to trump a trick by leading a suit of which he has none.
Force
To provide with forces; to reënforce; to strengthen by soldiers; to man; to garrison.
Force
To allow the force of; to value; to care for.
For me, I force not argument a straw.
Force
To use violence; to make violent effort; to strive; to endeavor.
Forcing with gifts to win his wanton heart.
Force
To make a difficult matter of anything; to labor; to hesitate; hence, to force of, to make much account of; to regard.
Your oath once broke, you force not to forswear.
I force not of such fooleries.
Force
To be of force, importance, or weight; to matter.
It is not sufficient to have attained the name and dignity of a shepherd, not forcing how.
Force
A waterfall; a cascade.
To see the falls for force of the river Kent.
Force
Capacity of exercising an influence or producing an effect; strength or energy of body or mind; active power; vigor; might; often, an unusual degree of strength or energy; especially, power to persuade, or convince, or impose obligation; pertinency; validity; special signification; as, the force of an appeal, an argument, a contract, or a term.
He was, in the full force of the words, a good man.
Force
Power exerted against will or consent; compulsory power; violence; coercion; as, by force of arms; to take by force.
Which now they hold by force, and not by right.
Force
Strength or power for war; hence, a body of land or naval combatants, with their appurtenances, ready for action; - an armament; troops; warlike array; - often in the plural; hence, a body of men prepared for action in other ways; as, the laboring force of a plantation; the armed forces.
Is Lucius general of the forces?
Force
Strength or power exercised without law, or contrary to law, upon persons or things; violence.
Force
Any action between two bodies which changes, or tends to change, their relative condition as to rest or motion; or, more generally, which changes, or tends to change, any physical relation between them, whether mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical, magnetic, or of any other kind; as, the force of gravity; cohesive force; centrifugal force.
Thy tears are of no force to mollifyThis flinty man.
More huge in strength than wise in works he was.
Adam and first matron EveHad ended now their orisons, and foundStrength added from above, new hope to springOut of despair.
Force
A unit that is part of some military service;
He sent Caesar a force of six thousand men
Force
One possessing or exercising power or influence or authority;
The mysterious presence of an evil power
May the force be with you
The forces of evil
Force
(physics) the influence that produces a change in a physical quantity;
Force equals mass times acceleration
Force
Group of people willing to obey orders;
A public force is necessary to give security to the rights of citizens
Force
A powerful effect or influence;
The force of his eloquence easily persuaded them
Force
An act of aggression (as one against a person who resists);
He may accomplish by craft in the long run what he cannot do by force and violence in the short one
Force
Physical energy or intensity;
He hit with all the force he could muster
It was destroyed by the strength of the gale
A government has not the vitality and forcefulness of a living man
Force
A group of people having the power of effective action;
He joined forces with a band of adventurers
Force
(of a law) having legal validity;
The law is still in effect
Force
To cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means :
She forced him to take a job in the city
He squeezed her for information
Force
Urge or force (a person) to an action; constrain or motivate
Force
Move with force,
He pushed the table into a corner
Force
Impose or thrust urgently, importunately, or inexorably;
She forced her diet fads on him
Force
Squeeze like a wedge into a tight space;
I squeezed myself into the corner
Force
Force into or from an action or state, either physically or metaphorically;
She rammed her mind into focus
He drives me mad
Force
Do forcibly; exert force;
Don't force it!
Force
Cause to move along the ground by pulling;
Draw a wagon
Pull a sled
Force
Take by force;
Storm the fort
Common Curiosities
Why does weight always act downwards?
Weight is directed towards the center of the gravitational field.
How is weight defined?
Weight is the force of gravity acting on an object's mass.
What units are used to measure force and weight?
Both are measured in Newtons (N).
What is force in physics?
Force is any interaction that changes the motion of an object.
Is weight constant in space?
No, it varies with the gravitational field strength, which can be zero in freefall, making objects weightless.
Does the value of weight change with location?
Yes, it changes with the gravitational field strength of a location.
Can an object's weight change without changing its mass?
Yes, if the gravitational acceleration acting on it changes.
What is the relationship between mass and weight?
Weight is directly proportional to mass in a given gravitational field.
Can the direction of force vary?
Yes, force can act in any direction, depending on the interaction.
What factors affect the magnitude of a force?
The nature of the interaction and the objects involved.
Can the same object have different weights?
Yes, depending on the gravitational field strength of the location.
How do forces affect moving objects?
Forces can accelerate, decelerate, or change the direction of a moving object.
What is gravitational force?
It's a force of attraction between two masses, including the force causing weight.
How do you calculate an object's weight?
By multiplying its mass by the local gravitational acceleration.
What is the significance of force in physics?
It's fundamental in understanding the interaction and motion of objects.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
