Difference Between Mass and Weight

 

Table of Contents

Mass and Weight. 11

Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) on Mass and Weight. 12

What is the Difference Between Mass and Weight?. 16

1. Definition of Mass. 16

2. Definition of Weight. 17

Differences Between Mass and Weight. 17

Practical Examples. 18

Why the Confusion Between Mass and Weight?. 18

The concept of the difference between mass and weight: 19

How is Mass Equal to Weight?. 24

Understanding Mass and Weight. 24

The Formula Linking Mass and Weight. 25

When Does Mass Equal Weight?. 25

Why Do We Sometimes Say Mass Equals Weight?. 26

What is 1 kg mass?". 33

Concept on What is 1 kg mass?. 33

 

 

Mass and Weight

Mass of a substance is the amount of matter present in it, while weight is the force exerted by gravity on an object. The mass of a substance is constant, whereas, its weight may vary from one place to another due to change in gravity.

The mass of a substance can be determined accurately in the laboratory by using an analytical balance .

The SI unit of mass is kilogram. However, its fraction named as gram (1 kg = 1000 g), is used in laboratories due to the smaller amounts of chemicals used in chemical reactions.

Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) on Mass and Weight

1. What is mass?

    a) The force exerted by gravity

    b) The amount of matter present in a substance

    c) The weight of an object

    d) The volume of a substance 

   Answer: b) The amount of matter present in a substance

2. What does weight depend on?

    a) The mass of the object

    b) The temperature of the object

    c) The force exerted by gravity

    d) The shape of the object 

   Answer: c) The force exerted by gravity

3. Which of the following is true about mass?

    a) It varies from one place to another

    b) It can change depending on the gravitational pull

    c) It is constant

    d) It is affected by the temperature 

   Answer: c) It is constant

4. What can affect the weight of a substance?

    a) Change in mass

    b) Change in gravity

    c) Change in temperature

    d) Change in volume 

   Answer: b) Change in gravity

5. How can the mass of a substance be determined in the laboratory?

    a) Using a thermometer

    b) Using a balance scale

    c) Using an analytical balance

    d) Using a ruler 

   Answer: c) Using an analytical balance

6. What is the SI unit of mass?

    a) Pound

    b) Gram

    c) Kilogram

    d) Newton 

   Answer: c) Kilogram

7. How is a kilogram related to a gram?

    a) 1 kg = 1000 g

    b) 1 kg = 100 g

    c) 1 kg = 10 g

    d) 1 kg = 10000 g 

   Answer: a) 1 kg = 1000 g

8. Why is gram commonly used in laboratories instead of kilograms?

    a) Because of the larger amounts of substances used

    b) Because it is the standard SI unit

    c) Because of the smaller amounts of chemicals used

    d) Because it is more accurate than kilograms 

   Answer: c) Because of the smaller amounts of chemicals used

9. Which of the following is used to measure small quantities of chemicals in a laboratory?

    a) A ruler

    b) A thermometer

    c) A balance scale

    d) A kilogram 

   Answer: c) A balance scale

10. The weight of an object varies with a change in what?

     a) Mass

     b) Temperature

     c) Gravity

     d) Shape 

    Answer: c) Gravity

11. What is the weight of an object directly related to?

     a) Its volume

     b) The force of gravity acting on it

     c) Its color

     d) Its chemical composition 

    Answer: b) The force of gravity acting on it

12. Which unit is most commonly used in laboratories for smaller masses?

     a) Kilogram

     b) Gram

     c) Pound

     d) Newton 

    Answer: b) Gram

13. What does an analytical balance measure?

     a) Temperature

     b) Volume

     c) Mass

     d) Density 

    Answer: c) Mass

14. Which statement is true about the weight of a substance?

     a) It is always constant everywhere

     b) It is independent of gravity

     c) It can vary depending on location due to gravity

     d) It depends only on the volume of the substance 

    Answer: c) It can vary depending on location due to gravity

15. Which of the following is NOT true about mass?

     a) Mass is constant everywhere

     b) Mass can be measured accurately using an analytical balance

     c) Mass changes with gravity

     d) Mass is the amount of matter in a substance 

    Answer: c) Mass changes with gravity

What is the Difference Between Mass and Weight?

Mass and weight are two fundamental concepts in physics that are often confused, but they have distinct meanings and properties. 

MCQs: Differences Between Mass and Weight

MCQs: Differences Between Mass and Weight (Class 11)

1. What is mass?

A. The force exerted by gravity on an object
B. The amount of matter in an object
C. The weight of an object on Earth
Show Answer
B. The amount of matter in an object

2. What is weight?

A. The amount of matter in an object
B. The force exerted by gravity on an object
C. The mass of an object
Show Answer
B. The force exerted by gravity on an object

3. Which of the following is constant for an object regardless of location?

A. Mass
B. Weight
C. Both
Show Answer
A. Mass

4. What is the unit of mass in the SI system?

A. Newton
B. Kilogram
C. Meter
Show Answer
B. Kilogram

5. What is the unit of weight in the SI system?

A. Newton
B. Kilogram
C. Joule
Show Answer
A. Newton

6. Which of the following affects the weight of an object?

A. Gravitational force
B. Temperature
C. Both
Show Answer
A. Gravitational force

7. Can mass be zero?

A. Yes
B. No
C. Only in space
Show Answer
B. No

8. Which of the following is true about mass and weight?

A. Mass changes with location, weight does not
B. Mass is constant, weight changes with location
C. Both mass and weight are constant
Show Answer
B. Mass is constant, weight changes with location

9. The weight of an object on the Moon is:

A. The same as on Earth
B. One-sixth of its weight on Earth
C. Zero
Show Answer
B. One-sixth of its weight on Earth

10. Which of the following factors does not affect mass?

A. Location
B. Temperature
C. Composition
Show Answer
A. Location

11. If an object is placed at a higher altitude, its weight:

A. Increases
B. Decreases
C. Remains the same
Show Answer
B. Decreases

12. Which of the following is true regarding weight?

A. It is independent of gravitational force
B. It changes with location
C. It is constant everywhere
Show Answer
B. It changes with location

13. What happens to the mass of an object when it is moved from Earth to space?

A. It increases
B. It decreases
C. It remains the same
Show Answer
C. It remains the same

14. How is weight measured?

A. Using a balance scale
B. Using a spring scale
C. Using a thermometer
Show Answer
B. Using a spring scale

15. What is the relationship between weight and mass?

A. Weight = Mass × Gravity
B. Weight = Mass ÷ Gravity
C. Weight and Mass are not related
Show Answer
A. Weight = Mass × Gravity

 

 


 

Differences Between Mass and Weight

 

Property

Mass

Weight

Definition

The amount of matter in an object.

The force exerted on an object due to gravity.

Unit

Kilogram (kg) or gram (g).

Newton (N).

Measurement Tool

Measured using an analytical balance.

Measured using a scale or spring balance.

Location Dependency

Constant; does not change with location.

Changes depending on the strength of gravity at the location.

Relationship with Gravity

Independent of gravity.

Directly depends on gravity.

Effect of Gravity

No effect; mass remains constant everywhere.

Varies with changes in gravitational pull.

 

 

 Practical Examples

1. On Earth vs. the Moon:

    Imagine a person weighing 70 kilograms on Earth. Their mass is still 70 kilograms, but their weight on the Moon would only be about 1/6th of what it is on Earth. This means their weight would be approximately 11.7 newtons on the Moon, compared to about 686 newtons on Earth. Despite this drastic reduction in weight, their mass remains unchanged.

 

2. In a Laboratory:

    When conducting chemical reactions or measuring substances in a lab, scientists typically focus on the mass of substances, since mass remains constant. If a chemical is weighed in grams or kilograms, this value will be the same regardless of the location of the laboratory.

 Why the Confusion Between Mass and Weight?

The confusion between mass and weight arises from everyday language. In common parlance, we often use the term "weight" to refer to both the mass and the force exerted by gravity on an object. For example, when someone says, “I weigh 70 kg,” they are technically referring to their mass, even though “weight” in the scientific sense is measured in newtons.

This confusion is compounded by the use of the same tools for measuring both mass and weight in everyday life, such as bathroom scales. While these devices actually measure weight (the force due to gravity), they are often labelled as measuring "weight" in kilograms, which is a unit of mass.

 

while mass and weight are closely related, they are different concepts. Mass refers to the amount of matter in an object and remains constant regardless of location, while weight is the force exerted by gravity and can change depending on the gravitational field the object is in. Understanding the distinction between these two concepts is crucial for both scientific study and practical applications, from laboratory experiments to understanding how objects behave on different planets.

The concept of the difference between mass and weight:

1. What does mass measure?

    a) The force of gravity on an object 

    b) The amount of matter in an object 

    c) The volume of an object 

    d) The temperature of an object 

   Answer: b) The amount of matter in an object

2. Which of the following units is used to measure mass?

    a) Newton 

    b) Pound 

    c) Kilogram 

    d) Meter 

   Answer: c) Kilogram

3. What does weight depend on?

    a) The mass of the object 

    b) The shape of the object 

    c) The force of gravity acting on the object 

    d) The volume of the object 

   Answer: c) The force of gravity acting on the object

4. Which of the following units is used to measure weight?

    a) Gram 

    b) Pound 

    c) Newton 

    d) Kilogram 

   Answer: c) Newton

5. What is the main difference between mass and weight?

    a) Mass is constant, but weight changes with gravity 

    b) Mass changes with gravity, but weight is constant 

    c) Mass depends on the shape of the object, weight does not 

    d) Mass and weight are the same 

   Answer: a) Mass is constant, but weight changes with gravity

6. Where would an object weigh less?

    a) On Earth 

    b) On the Moon 

    c) In a vacuum 

    d) On the Sun 

   Answer: b) On the Moon

7. Which tool is typically used to measure the mass of an object in the laboratory?

    a) A spring scale 

    b) A thermometer 

    c) An analytical balance 

    d) A ruler 

   Answer: c) An analytical balance

8. What is the gravitational acceleration on Earth?

    a) 10 m/s² 

    b) 9.8 m/s² 

    c) 5 m/s² 

    d) 2 m/s² 

   Answer: b) 9.8 m/s²

 

9. If an object has a mass of 2 kg, what is its weight on Earth?

    a) 2 N 

    b) 20 N 

    c) 9.8 N 

    d) 200 N 

   Answer: b) 20 N

10. How does the weight of an object on Earth compare to its weight on the Moon?

     a) The weight is the same on both 

     b) The weight on the Moon is six times more 

     c) The weight on the Moon is about onesixth of that on Earth 

     d) The weight on the Moon is zero 

    Answer: c) The weight on the Moon is about onesixth of that on Earth

11. Which of the following is true about mass?

     a) It changes with the location of the object 

     b) It depends on the gravitational pull 

     c) It is always constant 

     d) It can be measured using a spring scale 

    Answer: c) It is always constant

12. Which of the following factors can change an object's weight?

     a) The object's mass 

     b) The temperature of the object 

     c) The gravitational force at the object's location 

     d) The colour of the object 

    Answer: c) The gravitational force at the object's location

13. Which of the following is a unit of mass?

     a) Pound 

     b) Gram 

     c) Newton 

     d) Meter 

    Answer: b) Gram

14. If a person weighs 70 kg, what does that represent?

     a) Their mass 

     b) Their weight 

     c) The force of gravity on them 

     d) Their density 

    Answer: a) Their mass

15. Which statement is true about weight?

     a) Weight is constant and does not depend on location 

     b) Weight is determined by mass alone 

     c) Weight changes with the force of gravity at different locations 

     d) Weight is independent of gravity 

    Answer: c) Weight changes with the force of gravity at different locations

16. If an object is taken to the Moon, what will happen to its mass?

     a) It will remain unchanged 

     b) It will increase 

     c) It will decrease 

     d) It will become zero 

    Answer: a) It will remain unchanged

17. What tool measures the weight of an object?

     a) An analytical balance 

     b) A thermometer 

     c) A spring scale 

     d) A ruler 

    Answer: c) A spring scale

18. If an object has a mass of 10 kg, what is its weight on Earth?

     a) 100 N 

     b) 10 N 

     c) 9.8 N 

     d) 98 N 

    Answer: d) 98 N

19. Why is mass constant but weight varies?

     a) Mass is affected by temperature 

     b) Weight depends on the object’s material 

     c) Weight is influenced by gravity, but mass is not 

     d) Mass depends on gravity, but weight does not 

    Answer: c) Weight is influenced by gravity, but mass is not

20. Which of the following is true about the relationship between mass and weight?

     a) Mass and weight are completely unrelated 

     b) Mass is directly proportional to weight, with gravity as the proportionality constant 

     c) Mass and weight are the same 

     d) Mass decreases as weight increases 

    Answer: b) Mass is directly proportional to weight, with gravity as the proportionality constant

How is Mass Equal to Weight?

While mass and weight are distinct concepts in physics, there are situations where they can be mathematically related, especially in the context of Earth's gravitational field. To understand how mass can be "equal" to weight, it's important to understand the definitions of both terms and how they are connected through gravity.

Understanding Mass and Weight

 Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object. It is a scalar quantity and is typically measured in kilograms (kg) or grams (g). Mass remains constant regardless of the object's location, meaning it doesn't change whether the object is on Earth, the Moon, or in space.

 Weight, on the other hand, is the force exerted by gravity on an object. Weight is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction, and is typically measured in newtons (N). The weight of an object depends on the local gravitational pull, which varies depending on location.

The Formula Linking Mass and Weight

The relationship between mass and weight is described by the following formula:

Weight=Mass×Gravitational Force (g)

Where:

 Weight (W) is in newtons (N),

 Mass (m) is in kilograms (kg),

 Gravitational acceleration (g) is approximately 9.8 m/s² on Earth.

So, weight is directly proportional to mass. The greater the mass of an object, the greater its weight, assuming the same gravitational field.

When Does Mass Equal Weight?

Mass and weight are related, but they are not the same thing. However, there are cases where you can compare them numerically under specific conditions.

However, it is incorrect to state that mass and weight are exactly the same. The key point here is that mass is not directly equal to weight; they are related by the factor of gravitational acceleration.

Weight=Mass×Gravitational Force (g)

Why Do We Sometimes Say Mass Equals Weight?

In everyday conversation or simplified contexts, people might say "mass equals weight" when referring to the weight of an object on Earth, but this is technically inaccurate. The confusion arises because mass and weight are both measured using similar numeric values, especially when using kilograms to measure mass and newtons to measure weight, as on Earth the relationship between mass and weight is close enough for general purposes. But this approximation only holds true on Earth or under similar gravity conditions.

For instance, someone might refer to an object having a "weight" of 10 kg, which is actually its mass measured in kilograms. This can happen because, on Earth, 1 kilogram of mass weighs approximately 9.8 newtons, so in common terms, it might be simplified to say that an object with 10 kg mass "weighs" 10 kg, though the unit for weight is actually newtons.

Mass and weight are related but different quantities. Mass measures the amount of matter in an object and remains constant everywhere, while weight measures the force of gravity acting on the object and can vary depending on location. Though mass and weight are linked through the equation involving gravitational acceleration, they are not the same thing.

On Earth, an object's weight is roughly proportional to its mass, but the relationship is more complex than saying mass is equal to weight.

==

The concept of how mass is related to weight:

 

1. What does mass measure?

    a) The force of gravity acting on an object 

    b) The amount of matter in an object 

    c) The volume of an object  

    d) The temperature of an object 

   Answer: b) The amount of matter in an object

2. What is the unit of mass in the International System of Units (SI)?

    a) Pound 

    b) Kilogram 

    c) Gram 

    d) Newton 

   Answer: b) Kilogram

3. Which of the following defines weight?

    a) The amount of matter in an object 

    b) The force exerted by gravity on an object 

    c) The size of an object 

    d) The temperature of an object 

   Answer: b) The force exerted by gravity on an object

4. What is the unit of weight?

    a) Gram 

    b) Kilogram 

    c) Newton 

    d) Pound 

   Answer: c) Newton

5. Which of the following factors affects weight?

    a) The object’s mass 

    b) The object's shape 

    c) The local gravitational field strength 

    d) The object’s temperature 

   Answer: c) The local gravitational field strength

6. What is the approximate value of gravitational acceleration (g) on Earth?

    a) 10 m/s² 

    b) 9.8 m/s² 

    c) 8.5 m/s² 

    d) 12 m/s² 

   Answer: b) 9.8 m/s²

7. What formula is used to calculate the weight of an object?

    a) Weight = Mass × Volume 

    b) Weight = Mass × 9.8 m/s² 

    c) Weight = Volume × 9.8 m/s² 

    d) Weight = Mass + Volume 

   Answer: b) Weight = Mass × 9.8 m/s²

8. How is mass related to weight?

    a) Mass is the same as weight 

    b) Mass is multiplied by gravitational acceleration to give weight 

    c) Mass decreases with weight 

    d) Mass is irrelevant to weight 

   Answer: b) Mass is multiplied by gravitational acceleration to give weight

9. If the mass of an object is 10 kg, what is its weight on Earth?

    a) 100 N 

    b) 10 N 

    c) 9.8 N 

    d) 98 N 

   Answer: d) 98 N

10. Which of the following is true about the weight of an object?

     a) It is constant and does not depend on location 

     b) It changes depending on the gravitational field at a specific location 

     c) It remains the same no matter what planet it is on 

     d) It is unaffected by gravity 

    Answer: b) It changes depending on the gravitational field at a specific location

11. If an object has a mass of 2 kg, what will its weight be on the Moon?

     a) 20 N 

     b) 10 N 

     c) 3.2 N 

     d) 2 N 

    Answer: c) 3.2 N

 

12. If an object has a mass of 5 kg, how much would it weigh on the Moon, where gravity is about 1/6th of Earth's?

     a) 30 N 

     b) 10 N 

     c) 50 N 

     d) 8.3 N 

    Answer: d) 8.3 N

13. What happens to the weight of an object when it moves from Earth to the Moon?

     a) The weight increases 

     b) The weight decreases to onesixth of its original weight 

     c) The weight remains the same 

     d) The weight doubles 

    Answer: b) The weight decreases to onesixth of its original weight

14. If the mass of an object is 1 kg, what is its weight on Earth?

     a) 1 N 

     b) 9.8 N 

     c) 10 N 

     d) 0.1 N 

    Answer: b) 9.8 N

15. What is the main factor that differentiates mass from weight?

     a) Weight depends on the object’s material 

     b) Mass changes with location, but weight does not 

     c) Mass is constant, while weight changes with gravity 

     d) Mass is measured in kilograms, while weight is measured in grams 

    Answer: c) Mass is constant, while weight changes with gravity

16. Which of the following is correct about mass?

     a) Mass is constant everywhere, regardless of location 

     b) Mass decreases with increasing altitude 

     c) Mass changes depending on the gravitational force 

     d) Mass is only measured on Earth 

    Answer: a) Mass is constant everywhere, regardless of location

17. In a situation where gravity is stronger, how does weight change?

     a) The weight decreases 

     b) The weight remains the same 

     c) The weight increases 

     d) Weight does not exist in a stronger gravity field 

    Answer: c) The weight increases

18. Which tool is used to measure the weight of an object?

     a) A thermometer 

     b) A spring scale 

     c) A ruler 

     d) A balance scale 

    Answer: b) A spring scale

19. If an object has a mass of 50 kg, what is its weight on Earth?

     a) 50 N 

     b) 490 N 

     c) 500 N 

     d) 50,000 N 

    Answer: b) 490 N

20. Which of the following statements is correct?

     a) Mass and weight are the same in all circumstances 

     b) Mass can change depending on location 

     c) Weight depends on the gravitational pull of the object’s location 

     d) Weight and mass are independent of each other 

    Answer: c) Weight depends on the gravitational pull of the object’s location

21. Why can mass be considered "equal" to weight under certain conditions?

     a) Mass is always numerically equal to weight 

     b) The weight of an object in kilograms is approximately equal to its mass in newtons 

     c) Both mass and weight are measured in the same unit 

     d) On Earth, the mass and weight of an object are the same 

    Answer: b) The weight of an object in kilograms is approximately equal to its mass in newtons

What is 1 kg mass?

 

1 kilogram (kg) is the SI (International System of Units) unit of mass. It is defined as the amount of matter in an object or substance, and it is one of the fundamental units in physics.

 

Historically, 1 kilogram was defined as the mass of the International Prototype of the Kilogram, a platinumiridium cylinder kept at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in France. However, since May 2019, the definition of 1 kilogram is based on Planck's constant, a fundamental constant of nature, rather than a physical object. This change ensures the unit of mass is not dependent on a physical artifact, making it more precise and stable over time.

 

1 kilogram is approximately equal to the mass of:

    1 liter of water (under standard conditions).

    2.2046 pounds (in the imperial system of measurement).

In everyday life, 1 kg is a commonly used unit to express the mass of everyday objects, food, and materials.

==

Concept  1 kg mass?

 

1. What is the definition of 1 kilogram (kg) in the current SI system?

    a) The mass of 1 liter of water 

    b) The mass of the International Prototype of the Kilogram 

    c) Defined by Planck’s constant 

    d) The mass of a specific amount of platinum 

   Answer: c) Defined by Planck’s constant

2. Which of the following is approximately equal to 1 kilogram of mass?

    a) 1 litre of water 

    b) 1 gallon of milk 

    c) 2.2 pounds of sugar 

    d) 1 meter of iron 

   Answer: a) 1 litre of water

3. Which of the following units is used to measure mass in the International System of Units (SI)?

    a) Gram 

    b) Pound 

    c) Kilogram 

    d) Ounce 

   Answer: c) Kilogram

4. How is the mass of 1 kilogram currently defined?

    a) By the weight of the International Prototype of the Kilogram kept in France 

    b) By the volume of a given substance 

    c) By the force of gravity on 1 kg of mass at Earth's surface 

    d) By Planck’s constant, which relates to quantum mechanics 

   Answer: d) By Planck’s constant, which relates to quantum mechanics

5. Which of the following is a correct equivalence for 1 kilogram?

    a) 1000 grams 

    b) 1 meter per second squared 

    c) 2.2046 pounds 

    d) 1000 newtons 

   Answer: a) 1000 grams

 

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