what is the differance between mass and weight
Mass, m, is a fundamental quantity that does not change with motion or location. In metric units it is kilograms. In English units usually slugs.
Weight is the force exerted by the mass due to gravity.
Weight = m g
where g is the local acceleration of gravity. Oh earth surface this is about 9.81 meters/ second^2. On the moon for example it would be about 1/6 as strong so
On the moon the mass is still m
BUT
the weight on the moon is 1/6 the weight on earth.
In general gravitational force, which we call weight, between two objets is
F = G M m / d^2
G is universal gravity constant
d is distance between m and M
on earth surface M is mass of earth if m is your mass and d is earth radius R
so
W = m * (G M/r^2)
so around earth surface where d = R
G M/r^2 = about 9.81 m/s^2
of course as you can see if you go way up high or dig way down low, W will change, but m remains mass .
Weight = (G M/
weight refers to the force gravity applies to an object. A simple mass definition for kids is: mass reflects the amount of matter
thanks
The difference between mass and weight is often a source of confusion. Mass is a measurement of the amount of matter in an object, while weight is a measure of the force exerted on an object due to gravity.
To understand the difference, let's start with mass. Mass is an intrinsic property of an object and does not change regardless of its location. It refers to the total amount of matter present in an object and is measured in kilograms (kg). For example, a book with a mass of 1 kilogram will have the same mass whether it is on Earth, the Moon, or in space.
On the other hand, weight is dependent on the gravitational pull on an object. Weight is the force exerted on an object due to gravity and is measured in newtons (N). Weight can vary depending on the strength of gravity. For example, the same book that weighs 9.8 newtons (approximately) on Earth would weigh only about 1.6 newtons on the Moon since the Moon's gravitational force is weaker.
To calculate the weight of an object, you can use the equation: Weight = Mass x Acceleration due to gravity. On Earth, the average acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.8 m/s^2. So, if you know the mass of an object, you can multiply it by 9.8 to find its weight on Earth.
In summary, mass refers to the amount of matter in an object and remains the same regardless of its location, while weight is the force exerted on an object due to gravity and can vary depending on the strength of gravity.