The force with which the Earth attracts an object is called:

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UPSC CDS-I 2025 (General Studies) Official Paper (Held On: 13 Apr, 2025)
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  1. Weight of the object
  2. Mass of the object
  3. Density of the object
  4. Magnitude of the object

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Option 1 : Weight of the object
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The correct answer is Weight of the object.

Key Points

  • The force with which the Earth attracts an object is called the weight of the object.
  • Weight is determined by the gravitational force acting on the object's mass.
  • The formula for weight is W = m × g, where 'm' is the mass of the object, and 'g' is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s² on Earth).
  • Weight is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction; its direction is always toward the center of the Earth.
  • Unlike mass, weight can change depending on the gravitational field strength (e.g., it is less on the Moon due to lower gravity).

Additional Information

  • Mass: The quantity of matter in an object, measured in kilograms (kg). Mass is a scalar quantity and remains constant regardless of location.
  • Density: Defined as mass per unit volume, represented by the formula ρ = m/V. It is a measure of how much mass is packed into a given volume.
  • Gravitational force: A fundamental force of nature that attracts two bodies with mass toward each other. The gravitational force is responsible for the weight of objects on Earth.
  • Magnitude: Refers to the size or quantity of a vector, such as force. It does not specify the nature or source of the force.
  • On celestial bodies other than Earth, the gravitational acceleration 'g' differs, causing weight variations. For instance, on the Moon, gravity is approximately 1/6th that of Earth.
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