Question

What is the difference between mass and weight?

Answer 1

\[F = m \, a\]\[W = m \, g\]
In case the acceleration a is due to gravity, one exchanges the word 'force' for 'weight'. I.O.W.: weight is just the force due to gravity.

Answer 2

also weight is vector quantity while mass is scaler quentity

Answer 3

Mass is not a vector quantity. Mass is also a measure of inertia or the quantity of matter. Inertia is a property of matter which determines an object's resistance to change its motion. Weight is the force for gravity acting on an object. Weight can vary with the force of gravity ie and object weight more or less depending in which gravitational field it is in. Mass is a constant of a given body no matter where it is (non relativistic)

Answer 4

^That basically means you weigh different on different planets but your mass is constant and independent of which planet you're on.

Answer 5

Mass is a scalar quantity (no direction). Weight is a Force (Force due to gravity) which is a vector quantity (magnitude and direction). For example, our weight on earth may be 180lbs which in actuality implies more 180lbs toward the center of the earth. If you go to the moon, your weight will read differently due to the gravitational constant, g, HOWEVER, mass will remain the same. Mass is how much STUFF something is/has.

Answer 6

This may help: http://is.gd/mPkvED

Answer 7

Mass is a measurement of the amount of matter something contains, while Weight is the measurement of the pull of gravity on an object.