Page 57 - Force 10

Mass and Weight

In every day language mass and weight are sometimes used as synonyms,

but in physics mass and weight are different physical properties.

Mass: Mass of a body is the quantity of matter contained in it.

Weight: The force of gravity acting on a body is called weight of the body.

Mass Weight

1. It is the measure of inertia. 1. It is the measure of gravity.

2. It is a scalar quantity. 2. It is a vector quantity.

3. It is constant quantity. 3. It may vary from place to place for the

same body.

4. It cannot be zero of and material 4. It may be zero (for example weight of a

bodies. body is zero at the centre of the earth)

5. It is an essential property of material 5. It is not an essential property.
bodies.

6. It is not affected by presence of other 6. It may be affected by presence of other

bodies. bodies.

7. It is measured by the common balance. 7. It is measured by spring balance.