Mass

Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object. It is a fundamental property of an object and is often confused with weight. While weight is the force of gravity acting on an object, mass is the amount of matter in an object and is measured in kilograms (kg) or grams (g).

Units of Mass

The main units of mass are:

• Kilogram (kg): The kilogram is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units (SI).
• Gram (g): The gram is a smaller unit of mass, where 1 kilogram is equal to 1000 grams.

Measuring Mass

Mass can be measured using various instruments such as a balance or a scale. When measuring mass, it's important to calibrate the instrument and ensure that it is set to zero before taking a measurement.

Calculating Mass

The mass of an object can be calculated by dividing the force acting on the object by the acceleration due to gravity. The formula for calculating mass is:

Mass (m) = Force (F) / Acceleration due to gravity (g)

Study Guide

Here are some key points to remember about mass:

• Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object.
• It is measured in kilograms (kg) or grams (g).
• Mass is different from weight, which is the force of gravity acting on an object.
• The SI unit of mass is the kilogram (kg).
• Mass can be measured using a balance or a scale.
• When calculating mass, the formula is mass (m) = force (F) / acceleration due to gravity (g).