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Measurement of Mass and Weight

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Last updated date: 22nd Mar 2024
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How is Mass measured in Physics?

Mass is a fundamental characteristic property of matter. It exists independently and is autonomous of every other boundary, such as the temperature, pressure, and the area of the object in space. The matter has mass and consumes space. These two things are trained to us when we can get a handle on these ideas. A matter is anything you can contact truly, so all you see and communicate with around you have a mass. 


Mass commonly is mistaken for another boundary. This disarray happens because of the way that this boundary is erroneously utilized globally rather than mass because of its comfort and because of the way that we gauge things to discover their mass. This parameter is called weight, and weight is measured in Newton.


Definition of Mass

To define ‘how to measure mass’ alludes to the measure of matter in a specific object. This estimation of the measure of matter, for example, the mass of an object, is an inherent estimation of that body. Mass decides the quality of its common gravitational attraction for different bodies, its resistance from speeding up because of a force, inertia, and mass can likewise be utilized to determine the vitality substance of an example through the hypothesis of Relativity utilizing  Albert Einstein's E = mc2.


Mass of an object is measured by the SI Unit of mass that is the kilogram (kg). A kilogram can be separated into 1000 grams, and it was first characterized as one cubic decimetre of water at the point of melting of ice, for example, 0 oC. Such changes in the fundamental units of science can cause a catastrophe, which is why the Kilogram was re-imagined as the mass of the International Prototype Kilogram. 


Unit of Atomic Mass

Mass of an object is measured by the kilogram. But for excessively little and larger items we utilize different units:

  • Ton (metric ton) is equivalent to 1000 kg

  • The Atomic Mass Unit to kg is utilized while managing atoms and molecules whose masses are little to such an extent that the kilogram is not appropriate. One atomic mass unit is characterized as 1/12th the mass of a Carbon-12 atom. The estimation of 1 atomic mass unit is acquired as 1.66 x 10-27.


How do you Measure Mass?


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To explain ‘how to measure mass,’ the mass of an object is measured by a balance. The obscure mass of a body is contrasted and a known estimation of mass. We acquire the estimation of an obscure mass as far as a known value of mass. A parity works in space and spots of no gravity since changes in gravity influence both the majority on balance similarly.


Definition of Weight


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Mass isn't equivalent to weight (weight is measured in newton). While the mass is the characteristic property of the body, weight is the proportion of the power applied to the mass of the body because of gravity. Mass alludes to a general estimation of the item though weight is a limited translation of the object's mass. Weight is the impact of gravity, and consequently, we portray weight with the formula;

W = mg

Where m is the mass, and g is the acceleration because of gravity at that specific area. The weight is measured in Newton. For instance, an item with a mass of 50 kg encounters a gravitational power, for example, weight, which is equivalent to 50 x 9.8 = 490 Newton. A similar item but with a similar mass of 50 kg will gauge 1/6th on the moon what it did on Earth. This way, we can explain ‘how to measure mass.’


Mass-Gravity-Weight

We generally use these terms interchangeably without knowing the difference but little do we realize that they are not the same. Mass of any given object is the total matter in it at that point in time whereas the weight of an object is the total force acting upon the object. On the other hand, weight is the force exerted on an object due to gravity and it changes from place to place if the gravitational force changes. For example, when we throw a plastic bottle in the water, it floats and we can consider the weight of the ball is “0”. But, this does not mean that the mass of the ball is also “0” as we can clearly see the ball is made up of some matter. The gravitational force exerted on an object is directly proportional to the mass of the object which means, when the mass of the object is heavy, it exerts more gravitational force and when the mass of the object is less, it exerts comparatively lesser gravitational force. 


Solved Questions

1. Explain the Formula of the Mass.

Ans: Mass can be calculated with three potential ways:

  1. Mass=density*volume (m=ρV)

  2. Mass= force/acceleration (m=F/a)

  3. Mass= weight/gravitational acceleration (m=W/g)

Mass is a fundamental property that cannot be defined as per the other units like newton (in which weight is measured in) or joule. Other ways are also there to explain ‘how to measure mass.’


Fun Facts 

  • The weight of the object will increase when you are close to the earth. If two cups full of dirt are taken to the high mountains, the weight of the cup will be less if we compare the weight of the cup from the sea level.

  • Photons are the smallest mass known to be. 5.3 times 10-63kg.

  • The mass of the universe is believed to be 1051 kg, number 10, followed by 50 zeroes.

FAQs on Measurement of Mass and Weight

1. What do we use to quantify mass? 

To explain ‘how to measure mass,’ mass is the measure of matter in an object. Move to another planet, and an item's weight will change, yet its mass will be the equivalent.

 

Mass of an object is measured by two or three different objects. The most well-known technique is to utilize a balance. People weigh stuff regularly with a balance. Consider it. If you go to an alternate planet, the balance loads change by a similarity to the item you are estimating. Your mass estimated with an equalization would be the equivalent as the moon for what it's worth on Earth. Weight is measured in Newton, but in space, you cannot measure weight, yet your mass is the equivalent.

2. Why is there no mass in photons?

The light, which is composed of photons, has no mass. The photon has energy as well as momentum. The relativistic mass, which is present in a photon, cannot be said as a mass in terms of physics. The definition of the mass, which is invariant of an object, is \[\sqrt{\frac{E^2}{c^4}-\frac{p^2}{c^2}}=m\]. According to this definition, a light’s beam is massless. To explain the meaning of the equation E=mc2, the energy is equal to mass, except there is a conversion factor equal to the speed of the light square. So where the mass is, energy is also there. In the case of the photons, they have a relativistic mass. 

3. What is the difference between mass and weight?

People generally use these terms interchangeably without knowing the difference. Mass of any given object is the total matter in it at that point in time whereas the weight of an object is the total force acting upon the object. For example, when we throw a plastic bottle in the water, it floats and we can consider the weight of the ball is “0”. But, this does not mean that the mass of the ball is also “0” as we can clearly see the ball is made up of some matter. Mass is the reason why an object can exert resistance when force is applied to it due to acceleration. It is standardly represented in kilograms, grams and it is the total value of protons, neutrons and electrons present in it. On the other hand, weight is the force exerted on an object due to gravity and it changes from place to place if the gravitational force changes. Newton and pound is the standard unit used to represent the weight of a body. Weight is both scalar and vector quantity as it is dependent on the magnitude of the gravitational force and also the gravity acts directly on it.

4. What is the relation between the mass of the body and the gravity acting on it?

Mass of any given object is the total matter in it at that point in time whereas the weight of an object is the total force acting upon the object. Gravitational force is a type of force that is the reason for the attraction of two bodies that have mass. Gravity and mass are directly proportional to each other which means the objects with heavier mass have greater gravitational pull and the objects with lighter mass have a less gravitational pull. For example, a human being weighing the same mass experiences different levels of gravitational pull on the earth and the moon because the mass of the earth is much heavier than the mass of the moon so, the gravitational pull by the earth is more than the gravitational pull of the moon. The strength of the gravity is also dependent on the distance between two objects that are exerting gravity on each other, when the distance increases, the gravitational force exerted decreases and vice versa. 

5. What is the unit of mass?

Mass of any given object is the total matter in it at that point in time whereas the weight of an object is the total force acting upon the object. Gravity and mass are directly proportional to each other which means the objects with heavier mass have greater gravitational pull and the objects with lighter mass have a less gravitational pull.  It is standardly represented in kilograms, grams and it is the total value of protons, neutrons, and electrons present in it. Incase of atoms and molecules, grams and milligrams are not suitable to measure the mass and the mass of such minute things are measured in Atomic Mass Unit and other units being electron volt and ton. 


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