What term describes the gravitational force exerted upon an object due to its mass?

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Get ready for the UCF PSC1121 Physical Science Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each offering hints and explanations. Boost your exam readiness with our resources!

The term that describes the gravitational force exerted upon an object due to its mass is weight. Weight is the force with which the Earth (or another celestial body) attracts an object towards itself, and it is directly proportional to the object's mass. This relationship is defined by the equation ( W = mg ), where ( W ) is the weight, ( m ) is the mass, and ( g ) is the acceleration due to gravity. Since weight depends on both the mass of the object and the gravitational field strength, it is considered a force (measured in newtons) rather than a measure of how much matter an object contains, which is what mass represents.

In contrast, mass is a scalar quantity that measures the amount of matter in an object and does not change regardless of the object's location in the universe. Pressure is defined as the force applied per unit area and is unrelated to gravitational force acting on an object. Density refers to the mass per unit volume of a substance, which establishes a relationship between mass, volume, and how substances compare with one another but does not directly relate to gravitational force. Thus, weight is the correct term for the gravitational force exerted on an object due to its mass.