Bring out the differences between the mass and the weight of a body.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: Mass and weight are different in the following ways: Mass is a scalar quantity representing the amount of matter in an object, while weight is a vector quantity representing the gravitational force acting on the object. Mass remains constant regardless of an object's location, while weight varies depending on location. Mass is measured in kilograms (kg), while weight is measured in newtons (N). They are related through the formula W = mg, where W is the weight, m is the mass, and g is the gravitational acceleration.

Step by step solution

01

Define Mass

Mass is the amount of matter present in a body. It is a scalar quantity and remains constant for the body, regardless of its location in the universe. The unit of mass is the kilogram (kg).
02

Define Weight

Weight is the force exerted by gravity on a body. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction. The weight of an object can vary depending on its location, such as on Earth, the Moon, or in space. The unit of weight is the newton (N).
03

Explain the Relationship Between Mass and Weight

The weight of an object is calculated using the formula: W = mg, where W represents the weight of the object, m represents its mass, and g represents the gravitational acceleration (approximately 9.81 m/s² on Earth's surface).
04

Explain the Unit of Measurement for Mass and Weight

The units for mass and weight are different. Mass is measured in kilograms (kg) while weight is measured in newtons (N).
05

Provide an Example

Let's consider an object with a mass of 10 kg. To calculate the weight of this object on Earth, use the formula W = mg: W = (10 kg) * (9.81 m/s²) = 98.1 N The mass of the object is 10 kg and its weight on Earth is 98.1 N.
06

Summarize the Differences

To summarize, mass and weight differ in various ways: 1. Mass is a scalar quantity, while weight is a vector quantity. 2. Mass is the amount of matter in an object and remains constant regardless of its location, whereas weight is the gravitational force acting on an object, and it varies depending on the object's location. 3. Mass is measured in kilograms (kg), while weight is measured in newtons (N). 4. The relationship between mass and weight is given by the formula W = mg, where W is the weight, m is the mass, and g is the gravitational acceleration.

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