The main difference between mass and weight is mass is an amount of matter in material while the weight measures the force of gravity act upon the mass. The term mass and weight are used interchangeably in ordinary conversion, but the two words don't mean the same thing. First, let us understand definition of mass and weight.
Definition of Mass:
Mass is a the quantity of matter in a body regardless of its volume or of any forces acting on it. The mass is essential for how much stuff is in an object. The unit for mass is gram, kilogram or milligram.
Definition of weight:
The weight is a measurement of the gravitational force acting on a an object. If you are considering an object interacting with the earth this force is called the weight. The unit for weight is the newton.
The main key difference between mass and weight are listed below:
- The SI unit of mass is the gram or kilogram, the SI unit of weight is Newton.
- Mass is a scalar quantity as it has nothing to do with direction while the weight is a vector quantity as there is a force that acts down toward the earth.
- Mass is denoted by M while the Weight is denoted by W.
- Mass body shows that overall of matter from which it is composed while the weight of a body is force editing between a body with varying mass and gravity.
- Mass is considered a fundamental quantity that is of independent nature while the weight is known as a derived quantity.
- A body is independent of a cation where the body is present while the weight of a body shows the variation with the location.
- A body is always composed of matter thus mass can never be zero but as the weight of a body is a product of mass and gravity thus it can be 0 in the absence of gravity.
- Mass is always constant at any place and any time and anywhere while the weight of an object depends on the gravity at that place.
- Mass of a moving body M = F/A, Weight of a body W = mg
- Mass is measured using a pan balance, a triple beam balance, lever balance or electronic balance while the weight is measured using the spring balance.
- The mass of the body is independent of external factors while the weight of the body varies according to a changed in external conditions.
- Mass of an object is measured using the ordinary balance as it is determined by making a comparison between quantity and the unknown one. While spring balance generally measures the weight of the object.
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