What does weight refer to in terms of force?

Weight is defined as the force exerted by gravity on an object. This force depends on two key factors: the mass of the object and the acceleration due to gravity. The relationship can be expressed through the equation ( W = m \times g ), where ( W ) is weight, ( m ) is mass, and ( g ) is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately ( 9.81 , \text{m/s}^2 ) on the surface of the Earth).

In this context, weight is specifically a force, measured in newtons (N) in the International System of Units (SI). It is important to distinguish weight from mass, as mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object and does not vary with location, while weight can change depending on the strength of the gravitational field in which the object is located.