The load force is equal to the ____________, which is the force of gravity pulling an object downwards.

The load force is equal to the weight, which is the force of gravity pulling an object downwards. Weight is a measure of the gravitational force exerted on an object and is calculated using the formula:

$W = m \cdot g$

where:

• $W$ represents the weight (or load force) in newtons (N),
• $m$ represents the mass of the object in kilograms (kg),
• $g$ represents the acceleration due to gravity, approximately $9.81 \, \text{m/s}^2$ on the surface of the Earth.

Weight varies depending on the mass of the object and the strength of the gravitational field acting on it. Hence, when calculating the load force, it's important to accurately determine both the mass of the object and the local gravitational acceleration to ensure correct results. This relationship explains why heavier objects experience a greater gravitational pull, resulting in a larger load force acting on them.