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mass

Primary Information
Secondary Information

Definition

Mass is the amount of matter in an object. It is a fundamental property of matter, and it does not change with motion.

Mass is measured in kilograms. The kilogram is the SI unit of mass.

The mass of an object is determined by the number of atoms in the object and the average mass of each atom.

The mass of an object is also related to its inertia. Inertia is the resistance of an object to change its motion. The more mass an object has, the more inertia it has.

Weight is the force of gravity on an object. It is measured in newtons.

The weight of an object changes depending on the strength of gravity. For example, an object weighs less on the moon than it does on Earth.

The mass of an object is constant, but its weight can change.

How can the word be used?

The mass of the Earth is about 5.972 × 10^24 kilograms.

mass

Different forms of the word

Noun:

  • A large amount of matter.
  • A quantity of matter that has a definite volume but no definite shape.
  • The quantity of matter in a body, usually measured in kilograms.
  • The gravitational attraction between two bodies.
  • The Catholic Mass.

Adjective:

  • Relating to or having a large amount of matter.
  • Relating to or having a large number of people.

Verb:

  • To gather or assemble in a large group.
  • To have or possess a large amount of matter.
  • To celebrate Mass.

Etymology

The word "mass" comes from the Latin word "massa", which means "lump" or "clod".

The word "mass" was first used in English in the 14th century. It was originally used to describe a large amount of matter, but it soon came to be used in a more general sense to describe anything that was large or bulky.

Question

What is the mass of an object?

AQA Science Exam Question and Answer

Question:

Explain the concept of "mass" in physics and differentiate it from "weight." Provide examples to illustrate the difference between mass and weight.

Answer:

In physics, "mass" refers to the amount of matter present in an object. It is a fundamental property that remains constant regardless of an object's location, whereas "weight" refers to the force exerted on an object due to gravity. The main difference lies in the fact that mass is an intrinsic property, while weight depends on both mass and gravitational field strength.

For example, consider an astronaut on Earth and the Moon. The astronaut's mass remains the same on both celestial bodies. However, due to the Moon's weaker gravitational pull compared to Earth's, the astronaut's weight on the Moon is much lower. This highlights that weight is influenced by the gravitational force acting on an object.

Another example involves a bag of apples. The mass of the bag of apples remains constant whether it's on the ground or held in your hand. However, if you were to measure the weight of the bag on a scale, it would differ depending on the location due to varying gravitational strengths.

In essence, mass is an intrinsic property of matter, while weight is a force that depends on both mass and gravity. Understanding this distinction is crucial in various scientific contexts, including calculations involving forces, acceleration, and energy.