weighs

Weighs is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb weigh. It is used to express determining the weight of an object or to describe the weight that an object possesses. In physics, weight is the force exerted on a body by gravity, calculated as W = m g, where m is mass and g is the local acceleration due to gravity. Because gravity varies with location, an object's weight can differ depending on where it is measured, even if its mass remains the same.

Weighing is typically performed with scales. Balance scales compare an object's mass against known masses; spring scales measure force via the extension of a spring; modern electronic scales use load cells that convert force into an electrical signal. In everyday contexts, body weight is commonly measured with household or medical scales.

Mass and weight are distinct concepts: mass is an intrinsic property of matter, while weight is a force that depends on gravity. On the Moon, for example, an object weighs about one-sixth of its Earth weight, reflecting lower gravity.

The verb weighs also appears in idiomatic expressions, such as weighing the options, meaning to consider the relative merits of alternatives. In measurement practice, factors such as buoyancy, calibration of instruments, and local gravity can affect reported weight, so precision may require corrections or context about units (newtons for force, kilograms or pounds for mass-equivalent measures).