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Title: The weight of mass or the mess of weight

Abstract

This paper explores the cause of confusion associated with the words mass and weight, and offers suggestions to correct the problem. It is recommended that in technical and scientific use, weight shall be restricted to mean force of gravity. Technical standards, ASTM and others, and terminology shall clearly reflect and define weight to be force of gravity. Weight should be avoided in technical context because of its imprecision. Legal, formal, and official language shall use weight to mean force only. Under no circumstances should the SI units of mass, the kilogram, or its derivatives, be associated with weight. The term weight should be avoided in any language and wording that intends to convey a precise or important meaning. ASTM should revise all standards and terminology accordingly.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
6156044
Report Number(s):
CONF-8706117-1
ON: DE87009827
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-84OR21400
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: Symposium on standardization of terminology: theory and practice, Cincinnati, OH, USA, 24 Jun 1987; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
42 ENGINEERING; MASS; STANDARDIZED TERMINOLOGY; UNITS; WEIGHT; GRAVITATION; 420000* - Engineering

Citation Formats

Gat, U. The weight of mass or the mess of weight. United States: N. p., 1987. Web.
Gat, U. The weight of mass or the mess of weight. United States.
Gat, U. 1987. "The weight of mass or the mess of weight". United States.
@article{osti_6156044,
title = {The weight of mass or the mess of weight},
author = {Gat, U},
abstractNote = {This paper explores the cause of confusion associated with the words mass and weight, and offers suggestions to correct the problem. It is recommended that in technical and scientific use, weight shall be restricted to mean force of gravity. Technical standards, ASTM and others, and terminology shall clearly reflect and define weight to be force of gravity. Weight should be avoided in technical context because of its imprecision. Legal, formal, and official language shall use weight to mean force only. Under no circumstances should the SI units of mass, the kilogram, or its derivatives, be associated with weight. The term weight should be avoided in any language and wording that intends to convey a precise or important meaning. ASTM should revise all standards and terminology accordingly.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6156044}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jun 24 00:00:00 EDT 1987},
month = {Wed Jun 24 00:00:00 EDT 1987}
}

Conference:
Other availability
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