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Weight and Gravity - Problems with Meanings and Definitions

Vjera Lopac ; Zavod za fiziku, Fakultet kemijskog inženjerstva  i tehnologije, Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Hrvatska


Puni tekst: hrvatski pdf 518 Kb

str. 147-164

preuzimanja: 5.506

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Sažetak

Physicists, philosophers and researchers in physics education do not agree on the precise meaning and definition of the term weight. Most physicists advocate the theoretical (conceptual) definition, according to which weight is product of mass and the local acceleration of free fall, in line with the definition of weight in the international standard ISO 80000­4. It takes into account both the position of the observer and the inertial forces in accelerated reference systems. On the Earth’s surface weight is defined as the product of mass and combined gravitational and centrifugal acceleration. The same definition explains the concept of weight­lessness of a body freely falling or moving in an orbit. Some authors advocate the operational definition of weight according to which weight is defined as the result of measurement using the spring balance. The article analyzes the approach to the weight in physics courses and emphasizes the need to replace the operational definition by the internationally agreed definition of weight.

Ključne riječi

weight; gravity; theoretical definition; operational definition; weightlessness; noninertial reference system; inertial forces; local acceleration of free fall; load force

Hrčak ID:

103734

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/103734

Datum izdavanja:

10.4.2013.

Podaci na drugim jezicima: hrvatski

Posjeta: 6.526 *