Mass and weight are two concepts used in physics to describe the properties of objects. The Key Difference between Mass and Weight is that Mass is the amount of matter present in an object, whereas Weight is a measure of Force.
- Mass is measured in kilograms (kg), grams (g), etc
- Weight is measured in newtons (N), pounds (lb), etc.
- Mass is a scalar quantity while Weight is a vector quantity
Comparison Chart
- Mass and Weight both have different features and functionalities, here is a comparison of some key features between them.
| Mass | Weight |
|---|---|
| Mass is the amount of matter present in an object. | Weight is the force with which an object is attracted towards the center of the earth. |
| Mass is a scalar quantity. | Weight is a vector quantity |
| Mass is measured in kilograms (kg), grams (g), etc. | Weight is measured in newtons (N), pounds (lb), etc. |
| Mass remains the same wherever the object is located in the universe. | Weight changes with the location of the object. |
| Mass does not change with temperature or pressure. | Weight can change with temperature or pressure. |
| Mass is always positive. | Weight can be positive or negative depending on the direction of the force acting on the object. |
In summary, while mass and weight are related concepts, they have distinct properties that are important to understand in physics. Mass is an intrinsic property of an object, measured in kilograms or grams, and is conserved in physical processes. Weight, on the other hand, is an extrinsic property of an object, measured in newtons or pounds, and depends on the object’s mass and acceleration due to gravity.