What is the equivalent of one newton in terms of mass?

One newton is defined as the force required to accelerate a 1-kilogram mass by 1 meter per second squared, according to Newton’s second law of motion, which is expressed mathematically as F = ma (force equals mass times acceleration).

Given that the acceleration due to gravity on Earth is approximately 9.81 meters per second squared, a mass of about 0.1 kilograms (100 grams) exerts a force of roughly 0.98 newtons when affected by gravity (0.1 kg × 9.81 m/s²). Consequently, 0.1 kilograms is the mass that corresponds closely to a force measurement in newtons, particularly in context where the gravitational force is being considered.

Therefore, since option C, the 0.1 kg object, produces a force close to one newton when considering gravitational acceleration, it accurately represents the equivalent of one newton in terms of mass. Other mass options would either produce forces greater than or less than one newton when multiplied by the acceleration due to gravity.