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Provided theres no air resistance, everything near the earths surface falls
with acceleration g. We can use this fact and the formula Fnet = ma to find the
weight of an object. If something is falling freely (in vacuum), its weight is the
only force acting, so its weight is the net force. The acceleration a is simply g,
and substituting in the formula, we find weight = mg (When anything is at rest,
the acceleration is zero, of course, because the force from the ground balances the
weight.) We measure weight in pounds or newtons, the usual units of force. As an
example, well find the weight of 1 kg mass on earth in both newtons and pounds:
weight = mg = (1kg) (9.8m/s2) + 9.8N = 2.2lb.