Heavy and Light Objects: The concept of heavy and light objects for kindergarten is important for children. It helps them form a better understanding and idea about different types of objects. Toddlers need to have a proper foundation about heavy and light objects and the different concepts within it such as how tall or short, heavy or light, and big or small an object is.

This article has provided a detailed explanation of light and heavy objects and how much a light objects and heavy objects have. Children will also learn the different measuring units which is important for their learning foundation. Continue to read the article to know more.

Heavy and Light Objects

Have you ever wondered why some objects can be easily lifted while others cannot? This is due to the fact that the weights of the various objects differ. According to this, objects can be classified as heavy or light based on their weight. The objects with the most weight are heavy, while the objects with the least weight are light. For example, an iron ball, is heavy, whereas a football is a light (even if it is looking a bit bigger than the iron ball). When it comes to an object’s weight, size is irrelevant.

In a weighing balance, the heavyweight side goes down, and the lightweight side goes up. In the below picture, the black ball (right side) is heavy, so, it is in the lower level, and the beach ball (left side) is light, so it is in the higher level.

Define Heavy and Light Objects

The definition for heavy and light objects are provided below:

Heavy Object

The object that cannot be lifted easily is called a heavy object. The object that has more weight is called a heavy object

Light Object

Objects that can be lifted easily is called light object. The object that has less weight is called a light object

Heavy and light objects examples are given in the below image:

Weighing Balance

The weighing balance is the device for weighing. It has a balanced beam and two pans.

Non-standard Units of Measuring Weight

When the pans contain exactly the same mass, the beam is in balance. Now take a look at the image given below:

In the first picture, the weight of an apple is the same as the weight of an orange. So, the beam of the weighing balance is at the same level.

In the second picture, the left side pan is at a lower level, and the right side pan is at a higher level. The object that has more weight will go down, and the object that has less weight will go up. In the second picture, the pumpkin is heavier than the weight of an orange, as the side of the pumpkin pan is at a lower level and the side of the orange is at a higher level. 

In the third picture, the left side pan is at a higher level, and the right side pan is at a lower level. The object that has more weight will go down, and the object that has less weight will go up. In the third picture, the banana is heavier than the weight of an apple, as the side of the banana pan is at a lower level and the side of the apple is at a higher level. 

Standard Units to Measure the Weight

To measure the weights of an object, place an object in one pan and standard weights in the other pan.

By using different types of weighing scales, we can measure the weight of any object. There are different types of standard units of weighing scales used such as milligrams, grams and kilograms to measure the weight of different objects. The weighing scales can be manual or battery-run. The weighing is operated on manually using weights, as shown below.

Units of Weight

Grams and kilograms are the standard units of measurement of weight. The heavy objects are measured in kilograms, and the light objects are measured in grams.

Heavy and Light Objects Notes

1. \(1\;{\rm{kg}} = 1000\;{\rm{g}}\)

2. \(1\,{\rm{g}} = \frac{1}{{1000}}\;{\rm{kg}}\)

3. To convert kilograms to grams, multiply the kilograms by \(1000.\)

4. To convert grams to kilograms, divide the grams by \(1000.\)

5. To measure even heavier objects, the units quintals and tonnes are used.

\(1\,{\rm{quintal}} = 100\;{\rm{kg,}}\,1\,{\rm{tonne}} = 10\,{\rm{quintal}} = 1000\;{\rm{kg}}{\rm{.}}\)

Heavy and Light Objects Facts

Here we have provided the facts about Heavy and Light objects:

1. Students always forgot whether they have to divide or multiply by \(1000\) to convert from kilograms into grams. But children find it easy to remember and visualise that \(1\) kilogram is a bigger and heavier block than a block of \(1\) gram. Use this type of visualisation to help them with conversion. If the same kilogram needs to be built using grams, we will need many small blocks. As we know, to get a larger number, we multiply. So, when converting from \({\rm{kg}}\) to \({\rm{g,}}\) we should multiply by \(1000\).

2. Let us consider a trick to remember your own weight in grams and in kilograms. Our own weight in grams will be a large number. This large numerical value helps students to remember that when converting from \({\rm{kg}}\) to \({\rm{g,}}\) the numerical value will be very large.

Heavy and Light Objects Practice Problems

We have given the practice problems of heavy and light objects below:

Problem-1: Write ‘H’ for heavy objects and ‘L’ for the light object.

Solution: Here, two animals are a lion and a monkey. 

We know that lion is big in size in comparison to the monkey. So, its weight must be more than the monkey. Thus, the lion is heavy, and the monkey is light in weight.

Problem-2: Put an arrow for the heavy side pan.

Solution: The left side pan contains the weighing scales \({\rm{55}}\,{\rm{g,}}\,{\rm{245}}\,{\rm{g}}\) and \(750\,{\rm{g}}{\rm{.}}\) Now the total weight at the left side pan \({\rm{ = }}\,{\rm{55}}\,{\rm{g}}\,{\rm{ + }}\,{\rm{245}}\,{\rm{g}}\,{\rm{ + }}\,{\rm{750}}\,{\rm{g}}\,{\rm{ = 1050}}\,{\rm{g}}\)

The right side pan contains the weighing scales \({\rm{254}}\,{\rm{g}}\) and \(600\,{\rm{g}}.\)

Now the total weight at the right side pan \({\rm{ = }}\,{\rm{254}}\,{\rm{g}}\,{\rm{ + }}\,{\rm{600}}\,{\rm{g}}\,{\rm{ = }}\,{\rm{854}}\,{\rm{g}}{\rm{.}}\) As the total weight of right side pan is less, it is the light weight side.

Hence, let us put an arrow on the left side (heavyweight) pan.

Solved Examples – Heavy and Light Objects:

We have provided the solved examples of heavy and light objects below:

Q.1. Convert \(6000\,{\rm{g}}\) into \({\rm{kg}}\)
Ans: The given weight is \(6000\,{\rm{g}}\)
We know that to convert grams into kilograms, divide the grams by \(1000.\)
Now, \(6000\;{\rm{g}} = \frac{{6000}}{{1000}}\;{\rm{kg}} = 6\;{\rm{kg}}\)
Hence, \(6000\;{\rm{g}} = 6\;{\rm{kg}}.\)

Q.2. Name \(5\) things that we usually buy in grams and in kilograms, respectively.
Ans: Kilogram is used to measure the heavyweight, and gram is used to measure lightweight.
Let us list \(5\) items each, which we buy in grams and in kilograms,

In grams	In kilograms
Turmeric powder	Rice
Chilli powder	Sugar
Cumin seeds	Potato
Soap bar	Fruits
Colgate powder	Wheat

Q.3. Show how we will use these stone pieces to weight \(4\,{\rm{kg}}\) of firewood?
Ans:

Ans: We will put the firewood in one of the pans of the balance and the \(6\,{\rm{kg}}\) stone in the other. The pan with the stone will go down. We will then put the \(2\,{\rm{kg}}\) stone on the firewood and both the pans will become balanced. Thus, we will use \(2\,{\rm{kg}}\) and \(6\,{\rm{kg}}\) stones to weigh \(4\,{\rm{kg}}\) of firewood.

Q.4. Guess and write the units of weight of each item in the table in \({\rm{g}}\) and \({\rm{kg}}\).

Items	Weight
Dal	\(300\)
Tea	\(250\)
Pepper	\(25\)
Mustard seeds	\(200\)
Sugar	\(2\)

Ans: The items with their respective units are given in the below table,

Items	Weight with Units
Dal	\({\rm{300}}\,{\rm{g}}\)
Tea	\({\rm{250}}\,{\rm{g}}\)
Pepper	\({\rm{25}}\,{\rm{g}}\)
Mustard seeds	\({\rm{200}}\,{\rm{g}}\)
Sugar	\({\rm{2}}\,{\rm{kg}}\)

Q.5. Convert \(8\,{\rm{kg}}\) into \({\rm{g.}}\)
Ans: The given weight is \(8\,{\rm{kg.}}\)
We know that to convert kilograms into grams, multiply the grams by \(1000\).
Now, \(8\;{\rm{kg}} = 8 \times 1000\;{\rm{g}} = 8000\;{\rm{g}}\)
Hence, \(8\;{\rm{kg}} = 8000\;{\rm{g}}.\)

Heavy and Lights Objects: Summary

In this article, we covered the definition of heavy and light objects, their examples, some non-standard and standard units of measuring weight, formulas used to convert kilograms to grams and vice-versa, facts, notes, problems etc. It will help students to get a clear idea about heavy and light objects.

FAQ on Heavy and Lights Objects

Here we have provided Frequently asked questions on Heavy and Lights Objects:

Q.1. How do you introduce heavy and light?
Ans: Select some objects that children are familiar with. Encourage children to stick the pictures on a large piece of cardboard or adhesive paper. Be sure to use the words ‘heavy’ and ‘light’ as much as possible throughout the activity, associating them to the different items.

Q.2. How do you explain light and heavy for kids?
Ans: Tell the kids to lift the school bag with some books in one hand and a school bag with no books (empty bag) in another hand and find the difference in their weight. The bag with books is heavy, and the empty bag is light in weight. In this way, we can explain the concept of heavy and light to kids.

Q.3. What is the standard unit used to measure heavy and light objects?
Ans: The standard unit to measure the heavy object is a kilogram, and the unit to measure the light object is a gram.

Q.4. Explain Heavy and Light Objects with examples?
Ans: The objects having more weight are called heavy objects, and the objects having less weight are called light objects.
Example: chair, table, car etc., are heavy objects and pencil, eraser, paper etc., are light objects.

Q.5. What is how heavy or light an object is?
Ans: By measuring the weight, we can decide the object is heavy or light. If there is a huge difference between the objects, then by observing, we can say which one is heavy or light. The objects we can easily lift are called lightweight objects, and the objects we cannot lift easily is called heavy. 
Example: The weight of a feather, paper pin, cotton, flower etc., is light, and the weight of bricks, truck, elephant etc., are heavy.