What does the weighing scale we use in our homes actually measures? As weight should be in Newton and it measures in Kilograms so does it measures our mass ? Why we say that our weight is x Kilograms when we should say the weight is x Newtons , it is too confusing for me .
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If you’re in an environment where gravity is constant, then weight and mass are basically interchangeable. There’s no real difference between saying an apple has a mass of 0.1kg as saying it weighs 1N when you’re standing still on earth.
The difference becomes apparent when you start to accelerate up or down, or go into orbit, or go do another planet or moon. But for the vast majority of human existence and scientific inquiry, we have been dealing with static objects on earth, so the distinction hasn’t been that important.
You could imagine a future where people have colonised Mars, Earth has been abandoned, and somebody asks on ELI5 why “The Moon” is the name of a moon orbiting a different planet from the one they are on. We are creatures of habit, and it takes effort to change names for things!
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