Mass, Force and Weight

• Mass
– Dimension representing resistance
to motion
– Units [=] kilograms

• Force  m
– Based on Newton’s Second Law: 1 N  1 kg 1 
 2
force = mass * acceleration  s 
– Units [=] newtons

• Weight
– weight = mass * gravity w=mg
– Units [=] newtons
Universal Units Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 1
 Masslan
slug d
kg lbm
ton
w=mg

Welcome to
Units World!

Forceville
dyne
N

Universal Units Thinking Like an Engineer 2ekip 2

lbf
 Example Units_1

What is the weight of a 5 kilogram bowling

ball in units of newtons?

A. 0.5 N

B. 5N

C. 50 N

Universal Units Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 3

 DENSITY

Universal Units Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 4

 Density (r)
• Density is shown as Greek letter rho, r

• Density = mass (m) of an object divided by

the volume (V) the object occupies

m
r
V
Universal Units Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 5
 Specific Weight (γ)

• Specific Weight uses the greek letter gamma (γ)

• = Weight (W) of an object divided by the volume
(V) the object occupies

W

V
Universal Units Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 6
 Specific Gravity (SG)
• Relation between density of object & density of water

Density of the Object

Specific Gravity 
Density of Water

• SG is dimensionless & unit-less, it is a ratio of like units

• Can be used in ANY unit system depending on choice of

density of water units

Universal Units Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 7

 Density Values to Know

• Density of water:
– 1000 kg / m3

– 1 g / cm3

– 62.4 lbm / ft3

– 1.94 slug / ft3

Universal Units Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 8

 Example Units_3
• What is the specific gravity of bromine (Br2)?

– The density of bromine is 3,120 kg / m3

Universal Units Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 9

 Example Units_3
• What is the specific gravity of bromine (Br2)?

– The density of bromine is 3,120 kg / m3

3,120
 3.12
1,000
–Does it float on water? How can you tell?
Universal Units Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 10
 Example Units_4
• Arrange the following quantities in order
from the highest density to the lowest
density?

(A) Fluid A = SG of 0.787

(B) Fluid B = 1.025 g / cc
(C) Fluid C = 1,350 kg / m3
(D) Fluid D = 75 lbm / ft3

Universal Units Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 11

 Example Units_4
• Arrange the following quantities in order
from the highest density to the lowest
density?

(C) Fluid C = 1,350 kg / m3 = 1.35

(D) Fluid D = 75 lbm / ft3 = 1.2
(B) Fluid B = 1.025 g / cc = 1.025
(A) Fluid A = SG of 0.787 = .787

Universal Units Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 12

 Example Units_5
• Which is the mass of water in a volume
of one cubic foot?

(A) 62.4 kg
(B) 1.94 kg
(C) 28.3 g
(D) 28.3 kg

Universal Units Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 13

 Example Units_5
• Which is the mass of water in a volume of
one cubic foot?

(A) 62.4 kg
(B) 1.94 kg
(C) 28.3 g
(D) 28.3 kg = 62.4 lbm x 1 kg/2.205 lbm
Universal Units Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 14
 Example Units_6
• How many newtons does two liters of
bromine (Br2) weigh?

– Density of bromine (Br2) = 3,120 kg/m3

Universal Units Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 15

 Example Units_6
• How many newtons does two liters of
bromine (Br2) weigh?

– Density of bromine (Br2) = 3,120 kg/m3

3

W  mg 
3.120kg
3
x 2L x m x
9.8m
2
m 1000 L s
3
W  61.3 x 10 N
Universal Units Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 16
 Example Units_7
• What is the mass of one gallon of
bromine (Br2) in units of pounds-mass?

– Density of bromine (Br2) = 3,120 kg/m3

Universal Units Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 17

 Example Units_7
• What is the mass of one gallon of
bromine (Br2) in units of pounds-mass?

– Density of bromine (Br2) = 3,120 kg/m3

lbm lbm .0353 ft 3

W  3.120 x 62.4 3
x  26.0
ft .264 gal gal

Universal Units Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 18

 Masslan
ton d
kg lbm slug
w=mg
F=ma

w=mg
Forceville
lbf
N

Universal Units dyne Thinking Like an Engineer 2e kip 19

 Pounds
Pounds is a force!
– The same dimension as Newtons
– Not the same dimension as kilograms
– lb and lbf (lb-force) are the same thing

To convert between Force and mass you use W=mg

– Example convert 200 lb to mass:

– 200 lbf = m x 32.2 ft/s2 so m = 200/32.2 = 6.21 slugs

Universal Units Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 20
 Pounds
By convention people are much more familiar with pounds than
slugs.
lbm (pounds-mass) was created to make a convenient way to refer to
mass in the AES system.
– 1 lbm = 1/32.2 slugs or 32.2 lbm = 1 slug

lbm cannot be used in equations unless converted to slugs (lb*s2/ft)

– From prev example:

– 6.21 slugs x 32.2 lbm/slug = 200 lbm
– EVERYTHING ON THIS SLIDE IS TRUE ONLY ON EARTH!
Universal Units Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 21
 kg slug Massland
atm Pressure lbm ton

w=mg
Island

Q = m Cp ΔT
N
P=F/A
Pa

KE = ½ m v2
PE = m g H
W=Fx
Power Town BTU

cal
P=E/t
hp W
J Energy City 22
 AMOUNT

Universal Units Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 23

 Amount: Moles

Avogadro’s number (particles per mole):

23 −1
𝑁𝐴 = 6.022 𝑥 10 𝑚𝑜𝑙
– typically used with atoms or molecules
1 amu = 1.66 𝑥 10−24 𝑔
– Derived from mass of a Nucleon (Proton or
Neutron):

– Based on how many Nucleons are in 1 g of C12

Universal Units Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 24
 Amount: Moles

–The ratio of moles of each substance is

what balances chemical reactions
(stoichiometry) [stoi’-kē-ah-me-trē]

–Using moles allows conversion to mass

Universal Units Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 25

 Atomic Mass = Molar Mass

Universal Units Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 26

 Amount: Moles

Example: Find the mass of one mole

of water

H 2O  (2 x H )  (1 x O)
 (2 x 1.008)  (1 x 15.999)
 1 mole H 2O weighs 18.02 grams
Universal Units Thinking Like an Engineer 2e 27