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Questions and Answers
What is mass?
In which unit is mass measured in the International System of Units (SI)?
If an object's mass remains constant, does its weight also remain constant in different gravitational fields?
How many grams are there in one kilogram?
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If an astronaut is floating freely in zero gravity, what is their weight?
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Which unit is primarily used in the United States for weight measurements?
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Study Notes
Mass
Introduction
Mass refers to the amount of matter contained in an object. It is the amount of material in a substance or body. Mass is a fundamental property of matter that describes the amount of matter present. It is measured in kilograms, grams, milligrams, and other units of measurement in the metric system.
Units of Measurement
The unit of mass used in the International System of Units (SI) is the kilogram. One kilogram is equal to 1000 grams, and one gram is equal to 1000 milligrams. Other units of measurement include the troy pound and the avoirdupois pound, which are used primarily in the United States for weight measurements.
Relationship Between Mass and Weight
Although the terms mass and weight are sometimes used interchangeably, they actually refer to slightly different concepts. Mass is the amount of matter in an object, whereas weight is the force exerted upon an object due to gravity. An object's mass remains constant regardless of its location; however, its weight changes depending on the gravitational field it experiences.
For example, an object weighs more on a planet with stronger gravity, even though its mass remains the same. Similarly, an astronaut floating freely in zero gravity would appear to have no weight despite possessing the same mass as before.
Conservation of Mass
One of the fundamental principles of physics is the law of conservation of mass, which states that the total mass of closed systems remains constant unless matter is added to or removed from the system. This principle applies to chemical reactions, nuclear processes, and physical transformations of matter.
In summary, mass is a fundamental property of matter that measures the amount of material in an object. It is expressed in units of kilograms, grams, and other metric units and is conserved in closed systems.
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Description
Test your knowledge on mass, a fundamental property of matter that measures the amount of material in an object. Explore concepts such as units of measurement, the relationship between mass and weight, and the law of conservation of mass.
