what is mass? how are some ways that it can be measured?
2007-09-20 12:08:49 · 7 answers · asked by Sarah S 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Mass is a measure of how much matter is in an object.
Mass is measured using a balance.
2007-09-20 12:14:22 · answer #1 · answered by lhvinny 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
As others have said, mass is the amount of matter in an object.
Contrast this with weight which is the force exherted by a gravitational field, such as near or on the surface of a planet.
Mass can be measured:
- in a known gravitational field* with a calibrated scale, where the weight deforms a spring a distance proportional to the mass.
- in a known gravitational field* by using the period that the mass swings when a pendulum
- in any stable gravitational field by using a mass balance,
- without gravity by measuring acceleration/velocity when a known force is applied.
* = if the gravitational strength is not know, but is stable, using objects of known mass can be used to determine the mass of the object in question.
2007-09-28 11:04:04 · answer #2 · answered by NVRAM 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mass--the amount of matter an object takes up
Mass is measured using a triple beam balance.
2007-09-20 12:16:22 · answer #3 · answered by Brommy A 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Weight is the same as mass, but weight is applied to an object at rest in a gravitational field, the same body if free fall has no weight but the same mass.
2007-09-24 07:51:48 · answer #4 · answered by johnandeileen2000 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Mass is expressed as the ratio of weight per unit volume. In a regular solid, volume can be easily figured mathematically, with irregular solids, you take displacement volume, and place the weight of the sample before immersion over the displacement-volume, expressed, (usually) in Cubic Centimeters.
2007-09-26 06:12:15 · answer #5 · answered by Stephen H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mass is weight (kg) ÷ 9.81m/s²
Mass is measured in.... µg, mg, g, kg, metric tons (tonne), short tons, long tons, grains, oz, lbs....and other small and large, rarely used units.
2007-09-20 12:25:30 · answer #6 · answered by Norrie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
mass actually is the amount of matter the body contains........
it is measured by pan balance........(not to get confused with spring balance).......the biggest unit of mass is CSL............
2007-09-26 22:56:22 · answer #7 · answered by pretender 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋