Difference between Mass and Weight

Difference between Mass and Weight

Mass

1. The quantity of matter in a body is called Mass. It is also the measurement of inertia possessed by a body. Mass is also that property of body which determines the acceleration produced in it under the influence of force i.e. a = - f / m

2. The Mass of a body remains constant everywhere whether we measure it at a point far away from the centre of the earth or on the centre of the earth.

3. Mass of a body possesses no direction i.e. it is a Scalar Quantity.

4. Mass can be determined by ordinary physical balance.

Weight

1. The force with which the earth attracts a body towards its centre is called its weight. If m = mass, w = weight, g = Acceleration due to gravity then W = mg.

2. The Weight of a body is not a constant quantity, but its value is different at different places.

3. Weight of the body is zero at the centre of the earth.

4. The weight of a body has go direction and it is always directed towards the centre of the earth. It is a Vector Quantity.

5. Weight is measured with the help of spring Balance.