What is the effect of shifting cargo on the aircraft's Gross Weight?

The concept of gross weight in aviation refers to the total weight of the aircraft, including all contents such as passengers, cargo, fuel, and the aircraft itself at a given time. When considering how shifting cargo affects gross weight, it's important to note that the total weight of the aircraft remains constant as long as the weight of the cargo itself does not change.

When cargo is shifted within the aircraft, it does not add or remove any weight; it simply redistributes the same weight within the aircraft's structure. Therefore, while the center of gravity might change depending on how the cargo is positioned, the overall gross weight does not fluctuate due to the movement of the cargo alone.

In scenarios where cargo is physically added or removed from the aircraft, the gross weight would increase or decrease accordingly, but shifting cargo itself does not affect the total. This rationale underlines why the chosen answer correctly states that there is no effect on gross weight when cargo is merely repositioned.