<P> In science and engineering , the weight of an object is usually taken to be the force on the object due to gravity . Weight is a vector whose magnitude ( a scalar quantity ) , often denoted by an italic letter W , is the product of the mass m of the object and the magnitude of the local gravitational acceleration g ; thus : W = mg . The unit of measurement for weight is that of force , which in the International System of Units ( SI ) is the newton . For example , an object with a mass of one kilogram has a weight of about 9.8 newtons on the surface of the Earth , and about one - sixth as much on the Moon . In this sense of weight , a body can be weightless only if it is distant ( in principle infinitely far away ) from any other mass . Although weight and mass are scientifically distinct quantities , the terms are often confused with each other in everyday use ( i.e. comparing and converting force weight in pounds to mass in kilograms and vice versa ) . </P>
<P> In science and engineering , the weight of an object is usually taken to be the force on the object due to gravity . Weight is a vector whose magnitude ( a scalar quantity ) , often denoted by an italic letter W , is the product of the mass m of the object and the magnitude of the local gravitational acceleration g ; thus : W = mg . The unit of measurement for weight is that of force , which in the International System of Units ( SI ) is the newton . For example , an object with a mass of one kilogram has a weight of about 9.8 newtons on the surface of the Earth , and about one - sixth as much on the Moon . In this sense of weight , a body can be weightless only if it is distant ( in principle infinitely far away ) from any other mass . Although weight and mass are scientifically distinct quantities , the terms are often confused with each other in everyday use ( i.e. comparing and converting force weight in pounds to mass in kilograms and vice versa ) . </P>
what unit would you use to measure the weight of a apple
what unit would you use to measure the weight of a apple
newton
newton