how do i find the mass of an object?

Answer 1

If you are on Earth's surface, you weigh it. In the International System, mass units (kg) have been chosen to match weigth units (kg). An object with a weigth of 1 kg has a mass of 1 kg.

Of course, this is for the "average" weight, which is at a place, on Earth, where the gravitational acceleration is 9.80665 m/s^2. Depens on how much accuracy you need.

If not on Earth, then it gets trickier. For astronomical objects, you need to use tricks, such as finding a small object in orbit around the one for which you need the mass.

If the mass of orbiting objects is very small compared to the central object, then the orbital speed depends only on the mass of the central object and the distance between the two objects (orbiting radius).

If you are in space and can manipulate the object which, like you, is in free fall (e.g., you are building a space station and moving steel beams around), you can find the mass of an object by measuring the force needed to give the object a specific acceleration ( F = m a; then m = F/a). Galileo and Newton used spring balances (forces) and inclined planes on which they measured acceleration (Galileo used his own pulse as a chronometer).

Answer 2

Compare it to a known mass on a balance. For stars and planets this is impractical, so a known standard is taken and gravitational perturbations are measured to make an estimate for planets. Stars masses are based on what type of star they are, red giant versus white dwarf, etc.

To everyone that says "weigh it": mass is not the same as weight. A 100 kilogram weight on Earth will weigh less on the moon, but its mass will stay the same. Mass is partially defined by resistance to inertia - its easier to move a ten pound object in space than a 10-thousand pound object because the inertia is greater for the heavier (more MASSive) object.

Answer 3

There are only 2 ways of doing this
1) Apply a force and see how much it accelerates or conversely accelerate it and see how much force it takes.
2) Hold it near a known mass and see how much they attract

In practice gravity makes a handy (if inaccurate) acceleration so you measure the force it requires to counteract this acceleration and keep it stationary. This is what all weighing scales do.

Don't confuse mass and weight, mass is a property of the object and weight is the force that you need to apply to keep the object stationary.

Answer 4

The conventional way to find the mass of something is measure the force required to accelerate it at a known rate.

Ta.

Answer 5

Displacement. Submersing the object in a vessel of water and figure out how much liquid is displaced by submerging it. The remainder of liquid will determine how much liquid it used or overflowed as it's introduction into the vessel. This is how cubic inches are determined in a car engine.

Answer 6

Select the appropriate scale on your massmeter; milligrams, grams, kilograms.

Spread the probes on your massmeter such that the red one is on the right side of the object, and the black one is on the left side of the object.

Now touch the probes of the massmeter to the object.

Read the digital readout answer.

Note:
Massmeters are not effective for the measurement of gases, liquids, or radioactive materials.

Answer 7

Weigh it.

Weight = mass x acceleration.
Weight is a force, usually measured in newtons.
Mass is a fundamental unit in kilogrammes.
Acceleration is in this case gravitational, g, about 9.81 m/s/s

Answer 8

1gram=10newtons, at least on earth it does, if you're on some other planet then it doesn't.
Basically, mass is how much it actually weighs and weight is like mass multiplyed by the gravity

Answer 9

density = mass/volume

=> mass = density x volume

(this of course is apllied if you have the density and the volume of the object)

Answer 10

Hello =)

You compare it on a scale, to a known mass (so long as it's heavier than air)...........

Namaste, and Happy New Year,

--Tom