I nrs;

I
a
*.
i
a

r!fi$s, t|lilgflT f,il D DEllslT\

IEARHINg OBJTCfiVES

Candidates should be able to:

State that mass is a nreasure'trf the amotltlt trf matter in a Lrocly

State that rnats of a lxr.lf' resists a change in the state of rest or rnotion of the bodv
{inertia}

;,:I I Sate that a grasitationat fiel.l isa ref;it-rn in lthich.r m.'rssexPerie'ncesa force clne to
gra vi t.t tit)n.l I att raction

ti I O*fi"e grar-itatitrh.rl iield strength,.g as.g,1l.' italiotttt! lt,rt't' 1t'r unit Irri?sS

i)
{+t Rec":ll anr-i .xppll' the rel.rtion.hip rrt'itftl = nrrri-i x {rrri'lf ttionnl .li.'lt! sf rt'tltt/t ttl nclv
sittrati*ns trr tt) srrlve related prolrlgps

i-. I Or.tirlsuish betu't:elr rIlclSS ancl rr-ei*ht

i
f .'.
l---{ Recall .rnd apply the re'lationship dorsittl = tun;s / toluntc to lew situati6ns 01 1t-l strlve
related pr(rtrlems

USEFUL WE BSITES

h't,n
l,-"p.
. :r,.:-^.rl-i Jor:p.JServe.C:'-, h'-*a:?2"s
'rJt a.
-l
Cene lti r' jzar!, .'-: j.:.htrn
{Differences between Mass and ?{eighti
'::.his:l
h"rn.
,,s-tr ii:tbrf;k-\l ! rl.u1 ,3:i:: :h,s Ciass ner.iiar',s ur
.rr-r.--,,,-r-
J

{lnertia and ltvlass} it

,..P '
,h"n- li-:f.c^a'r,l'-'.L.-'-- )t"t
." l"
{Notes on grav-tyi t
I
1 i}(i J '-'- :
I :
,
F"c
. t) ;,e'. ': :

{Notes 0n fi'elc strengtlt}

r":; i ::- ;.':, SC:'-

{Ex ptanation c f grav!tation al

hi'f:' ,-,.-- .-. :-. - jC. '.:,1:ntf1j

{Gravity study guide }

r. 1lit1 ri,:-q
, -t,. -t. ) ,
,

(An interactive activity to find density of a cubel

,;
 hxL't.irxNtrNo'4 Mr6s, werorr rxo DruPw
t_il

OVERVIT$ OF THE TOPIC

I ' f nt'rti;t .rnd nlass

MASS WEIGHTJAND
pJNSlTv & h{.\$ AND wElctlr L- -
i . Cravitational f,rrce and r'r'eight
I
I

&'- 3 kt'r, flrt'rls I . Orift'rtnces tretrt'een ma'as arrd

i rvcight

S cR{vtrATIoNAL FIELD '

AND GTUVITATIONAL
FIELD STRENGT}T
L-

& DENSITY
 CCE'O' LEIIEL Ph1:;irsKEY' POTNTS Ho"4 Mrs. Wererr Al*o Ott"grv

tl'-T rdAss euu ilEl0HT

gf lso*rt* .\\t) Lf-rss

G The INERTIA of ut1 1l[rject depen.{s on its IvfASS-

e Concept
O ilfORE mass nleans CREATER inertia.

7 I l-

Inertia of a t orty refers to the TENDENCY of NOT changing its state of

,Z Definition
rr]st Or motion.

a
:'':"S;;"^Ry body tends to remain at rest by itself. su.r, t*a"r,"y is called inertia'
magnitude and
tr A MOVING body keeps on moving with the same velocity by itself (both
direction remain'unchanged). Suctitendency is also called inertia-
Examptes ol inertia:
O Whea a bus stops suddenly, the passcngers continue to move forward. They need to
hold

. tight to lhe handles to ovetcoms this inertia-

to
o A fat pcrcon can easily lose his balance if he tries to Iuo in a zllzag manner. He needs
adjust his speed to. cope whh this probtem caused by inertia'
A bus with a mass ol 70o0kg has a larger inertia -rtthan a car with a mass of 12Oo
kg'
o the car'
As such trha bus needs higher engine powei and yet still acccbrates slowet than

franfip : :;-
flass
The number and conposriron of atcrns ar,d mclecules make up lhe mass o f a bcdy '
rer 3:rs the same no ''natier r'.here the br:dy is lccateC {either on Iartn, lvloon cr in cu:erspacel'

:
d CR.,tt'IT.'"-TIL:.\.tL FtlRt-E ,'t-\D 1\'i. ;i ir

LYei$ht is d vectur tlu.lntity that ,rrcflsures tha nrrtottrtt of grdt'itatiaunl force

Def inition
acting .,* { bodr'.
I

All objects are attradtr+ b1' the CRAVITATIONAL PULL of the Earth or CRA\/ITY.
This force pull-s all o bieec ts to*'.rrds the centre of the Earth-
Atr objcct zuith ,nore na ss ex1ericnccs Slenter graaitational force octirug an
it.

According to Nevr"ton s 2'"t Larv of \lotitln, EquationlF=m.r tu find this gravitational force

knprvn as ra'cight, simply rnultiplr' fflcrss bv acceleration ctue ttl gr.lvit\', EqlrationlVV-mg
..
(g is 10 m t-'). i .-

strength which has $nle nltlgnittt,-lr

,
H is also known as gravit;rtion.rl field
'tt Take note
but different SI unit, i.e. l0 N kg-t
I q6 ,\,\ I rt I I \ I I l'lr\:.rrshLl''f'()lN l5lNo.4 M,rss, Wtf,ilrt Alro Dursrrv

d n,, , , Rr\r'ls trt:ntt:t;N M nrs ANt l wl:t(;l lr

g Weight

Defirrition rlfnss of nn obirct is flrc rrlt'rl.slrrr lVrigltt of on objcct is fltt' rtf trrtclii't'
of the /,/rtOtINf OI ir.'lnfR | .forc.' t'tc'rtcd ort it dttt to GR-ll7n'.
I

thnt it corttnirrs.
i-
Ouantity Scalrrr i Vcct.,r

untt kilogram (kg) ner+'ton (N)

lvleasurenrent Using a beam balanct' trr an I Uting c1 slrring balance trr a

electronic ['talance. i ..r^p'tres*sion

_-iw.,,;t"
balance.

Property ttta.-r ,; ,rt,.;C.^NNC,T t* .;;" ,bject mar t',e

""
changecl b-r' ch.rngin$ its ltx.ttirtn, i DIFFERETT-T de;rgn.1ins ttn the
sha;'re and slrced : gravit.rtional forcc'of its ltlc.ttiot't.

Exarnple:
The following shows the mass and weight of an astroflaut when he travels from Earth to Moon:
On Earth On Moon tn outerspace
htass = 84 kg Mass = 84 kg Mass = 84 kg
Weight = 840 N Weight = 140 N Weight = O H
{Gravity of Earth is (Gravity of moon is (No gravity in outersPace,
about 1O N/kgl about one-sixth of weightlessness.l
the value on Earth.l

STOP & THINK

[Ql A can, filled u'ith sand, is hung on a long string close to the surface of the Earth. An
identicat can is hung in the same wal'close to the surface of the Mtrcn. The cans are given
a siden'ays push.

push*a pu.sh+
N N
surface of Earth surface of Moon

Comp.rrt<l rt'ith the can hanging close to the Earth, the can close to the lv{cxln starts to
m{}t'e
A mrrre easil\', as it has less lTlASS.
B mrlre t'isil\,, as it has less rve ight.
C u ith thr s;lme ir has the same ma)s.

D rvith s;rm8 r'ase, ir has the \1Ine rteight.

[An'] C The trtsL' tlf mtltirln dt,Pends rrn the intrtia of thc can \\'hich in ttrrn drpcnds (,n
thr ma5s of the can.

fr*n{ip-{}--
Mass is the satne on both the Eaah ard lvtoon. It is a constant wfuch $ oot dependent
on grauity. Weght acts vertcally dortnrrards and do not allect th€ irxtrd honzontal
rnotiln ol thc cEn.
 f 5? 1 ilo.4 lf*ss, t#rc*rr Arrr) Str*srrr

S'-T STf,fiIN*$}IAL TIILD *}ID gRAVIIAflOI[fll fIfLD STREHSTII

'Li Craritaticnal firll.{ refers to the region srrrTflunding the Earth where gravity is experiencet
-l
't,
The strength of gravitational fiel,J Ls the strongest on the surface of the Earth and gets weal'
further away.

& Accordi*B to the definition: grarit.rtional field strenlgn : I:!ql

hence, rveight : ff: gravitational iielct strength

' I H'here !V: rveight (in Nl

& Equatiwrl W-m!; m: rnass tin kg) a

$: grnvitational field stren;gh {in Nt<g-t}

g Gravitational fieid strength, g, on the surface of earth is 10 N kg-'

Z ThLs means that for every I kg mass, an object experiences a force of 10 N due to gravitation'
pull"

fnnlip. i..^;''
For guestions refatel t3 the gravitational pull on Earth: Weight = InsSS x l0 f'l kg
For q:.restions related to accelera:icn due tc gravrty on Ear:h: L"deight = mass { t0 rn s:

STOP & THINK

One
[Q] Trvo rubber balls of the same size are both dropped on the Earth and on the lrttoon'
ball is solid, and one is hollo*'-
The approximate graritational field strength on the Earth is l0 N/kg .rnd on the Mrnn
Ls 1.7 N,/kg. Which ball has the greateit force acting on it?

T)"Fl* of ball Where droplrsd

A hollow' : on the Ea rth
B hollorv.t i on the lft,r'rn I
I

C soliu"-l rI or the Eartlr

D soli*,{ on the \ftxrn I

has a
[Ansl C The sotid ball has a tre.lter m.rss kattse it cont.rins more nr.rttcr- It .rlsr.r iniiial
larger rt'eight as W = ,gln tn the soli.l and hollorv balls experience the s.'rme
air resistance as tlrev h.ive the slme surf.lc€ are.r- The resuitant force .rctin6 on the
:
ball is the differerre betrr'een the rveight and the air re;istance.
,
I
frcnlip:--.-
The lorce aclrng on an obJect when it ir under lree lalting rs the werghl (gtaYr[ational
air resistance rs tnken into account, the torce becomes the ?esulran't Iolce
pulll. lf
of the weight and airuesistance-
 Mess, wr'o'rr AND Dtr,srrv
f 5S-l@krt{rynr1x]dilo.4
STOP & THI}IK
sttrface tlf the Mtxrn is 1.6 N/kg. Which values
tQI Th* gravitirtional fiel.l strength on the
of mass and weight .tre ctrrrect for an obiect placed {)n the I\trron'S strrface?

lrttass/ kS ll'eir:ht I N
A l0 l.t,
B r0 I6
C l6 t0
D l6 160

Weight : {r.u'it.ltitmal fielcl strength: 10 x = to N

[Ansl B
1.(r
rl.titss x

f xen{ip i'.--r-'
tor mass and n'reight to
Since mass of rhe cbject is not grven. check the valees
tind out for rlhich pair of ualues the relalionshiP \'\ = mg rs held.

&-. DE NSITY

I
L t l_-

- Density is a scalar quantity- SI unit of dcnsity: kg/m' or E'lcm''

Erplnrratiott:
of atorrs and molecules'
1 substances are made up of different number and composition
; A substance can be seen as a gal a liquid or a solid'
:BycompaqingMAssPERuNrrvoLUMEofdifferentsubstances,weareabletoknow
the SAME arnount of
vr.hich lras mone mass conliained inside Tace'
Example:
ThedensityolicckglTlg/mt'Thcdenshyofpurcw,tcritlofi}lg/m'.Thcdcnshyof
pure gdd is 19 3OO tg/mt.
A substef}ec (icel with I bwar dcnsitl then wttcr floats on watct- ll
e gristencc sinks in
watet, thal rncar}t itr density is high" than watct lgoldl'

tnnlip
l kg = tOOOg 1- - "ft:^- 1'n- ' tC cnr'
Thc un,ts \t-\(:C l',"-a"a-1'2(,' musl tE consrstenl' ll yt"a u"r: il n l"z
rltnlrty' \g an<J nr'
nrust lte uscd lrrr t;b\S z^,,(,'Jtne fl:spectlvcly Tlw: s;rfttt' i'tnc4tlr' al{}l*s lo g'rcm

-; a PURE substancre, &nsity i< a fired }roPerty' i.et ils mass is tircdll p-toporlioual to ils
'' For
;;i;;. i'il. ii- ,ppr,*';-;q*" madJ r.i. i SAME subrtance but with differenr siztn''
..e.oltrcteADr.SGo.Dlb.irrhorrr.r.d.'lc..tlAhrrE|c.fi&lot8.th.ndr.
- matt d A It J.o firfar fi anr ol t'
 "f

GCE'0LEVfln.,yffi Ito.4 *lrss, Hfgcr{r r$o Dexsw

sroP & IHtilr

,
tQl A student is rrying to find the density of a stone, but he has mixed up the instructir
cards.

:
t
I
I
Find the mass of Read the new *evel
t
Put the stone into
:
the stone using a of the Equitl in the the IQutot
mass balance measurirg cyllnder

Card I Card 2 Card 3 Card 4

H
Pul some liqu*l into a
rneasuring cylinder and
read lhe level of the liquid
Flick th€ cldinder
Subtract the original
volume of liquid
from the volume of
liguid plus the stone
to get rid of any air
bubbles

Card 5 Card E Card 7

What order should the cards be in?
A 5-+3+6+2-+l+1-+T
B l+5-+3-r6+2+I--r{
C 5-+6+3-+2->l-+T-+{
D l-+{-r5-+3-+ 6->?+7
,

[Ans] B It is easier if y'ou Iook at the choices given rather than rvgrk out the answer by
rearranging tlre cards.
Ennlip-!^-j- j

si1 .-t u
s:rne. !...e Feed :o rpp,/ rr:. formura .,r:rsrry
I;j*:i":-" a mass ej?:rr:1r:
=mass ":rurr:r.
r-z'totume is obtar:rrc'
o, ,n, ,]rotJl-lr.l:t ";1#:' 'aian'e
 t

Ho'4 Me$s' wtrcnrr AHD oereiw

t-60-l

sIoP & Ttllllx

of wood" They meilstrre tlu mis{tls
tal ffitlents want to calctrlate the tierusitv of a tyl't
sr'n'tPl6 trf t'hc rt'orvd.
;rncl r.oltrmes of clifferent sized
\thich graph shor'r's their restrlts?

I
1
/
./ ,/? \
t/
,l mass
lTlASS ,/
/ i,/
'NASS
/ :\
0'
.

0
,,/---
- o'--: :'- \-
0 volume
o
0
0 volume O volum€

mass is directly proportional to volume'

[Ans] B For same substance,
Exenlip i--1'
'Ihe graph should start at t-e rrigin'

I
STOP & THINK
of steel- They are different shaPes trut thev all
[QJ Thtee olriects
are ctrt frorn the s"rme sheet
hare the same rnass'
,/\-
{)
\J
\--l
r-l
L-J
11-
I
square L-shaPe
disc

XVhich ebiect has the greatt=t dens ity?

A the disc
B the [,-sha['e
C the sqtlnre
D .tl} harre the sanne rJensitV

shfitlltl have t'i si1afts {\'('lllme) used to c.trlaitr th:\ tna\\'

[An'tDSince'-ll!oblectsilrcmids{rilmtr(j!1mcm;rteti;rl'rndhavelrlmema\\'thr:nthev
'-a-"-"rl'tt"'''r
'n"
f ranfiP
I
i
I
 -- h"1.1

I
GCE'O' LEVEL Phssit=K EY TPCIINTS Ho.4 Mrss, Wesnr llxr &xsrrr

sToP & TllrffK

[OI $ quantiY of gas in a sealecl balloon is cooled duwru
No gas is alltxved to enter or leave the balloon"
How do the listed properties of the gas chi'rnge?
lvlars Voltrme Derasity
A cltrcrea.sr*, s.rme i ncrea-srx;
sLr1"s the
B increases stays the sarne tlecreasr:s
C stays the -same decrease; increasra;
D stays the sarne increas*; decreas*

lAnsJ C lA,hen the ternperahrre decreases, the gas contracts. The den-sity will decrease as
the volume is smaller but the mass is a constant.

Examlip;;=
Fcr this type of questron, candidates should hear in mind that the rnass of the
gas ts a constant as no gas is allor,r.ed to enter or lea,",e the ballc.:n. fhe volume
of trre balloon is not a constant as it can expanC or coniract.
 ty i;rVt'-l- l'lrysir:HE\''ft)I}iII No'{ Mrss, t/tlela*rr At6 Drrctrv
l--62-l CCf,

C}|ALTTHSIXO QUTSTIOHS

liquid' When a stone of rveight 0'9l N is dmpped into

r of the
1.
iiq-il,'r, *,u toiinr"'n*r ,tr* li.ltrid level rises l.
the 7o cmt 6r'rduati.n'
"rfrJ-to
Taking the weight (rf 1 kg to tx l0 N' calctrlate
I1I
(i) the Inass tlf the stone,
t2l
(ii) the density ()f tlre stone'
this method to determine the densify of cork which
Explain why it wotrld not be Srtlssible tc u-sE t1l
rv,itrld float in the liquid'

of metal is hung.in air from a spring balpnce' the reading is 95 N-

2. (a) When a blttck
(i) what is rhe weight of the bltxk of rnetal?
what is the of the block of metal?
(ii) Assurning that the vt,eight of a l kg mass is 10N'
mass
t2I

(b)
t'lxk trf mehl

dlsplacement can

rr'ater

The abot'e diagram shorvs a displactment can

n'hicl has been filted rtith water'
the ci:rr until it i5 totally- immersed in the w.ater,
When the bl<rck of metal in (a) is lowerer.l inte
thu *tt't' IZI
lt0cmr of vgater o""rno,*r.'Alculate the density of

the pellets is found

to t e 66 g and the total '-otume of
3. The mass of 600 spherical lead pellets is fornd
to be 5.7 cmr- Calcdlate
(i) the total vr'eight of the pellete
(ii) the \'olume of one Pellet,
(iii) the density of the pellets in kg,/m"
kg' ["fh* forrc. of grat'itv acting ()n a mass of
(ir,) the nLrmber trf petrlets r*'hich has a lrlftss {"}f, 1 #} I7I
1 00 kg is 1S-0 Nl
 ffiE'(}' LEVEL Fh1'sisK fY r fOINTS tao"4 Mrss, tt$ttcrrr rrxl Doerv

{. {a} ThE acteleration of free fall rmr ttre surface of the Earth is 9.8 rn/s1
Tk acceleration of free hll near the surface of the Moon is 1.6 m/sr.
Cal,ctrlate the weight of an obiect of rnass 5-0 kg
(i) nenr the surface of the Earth,
(ii) near the surface of the Moon-
You have available a balance I and a balance N, as shorryn in the figure.
{b}

fi

I
il

Ii
5 J

State and explain which you would use to measure

(i) mass,
(ii) weight.

I
t
 Mrss. WcrCrrt uo Dfr*srrv

$OLUTIOHS frND EXPLfiIIATIOHS

l. (i) Mass, nr - w/t =o'gUrc = 0'092k8

(ii) Volume of slone on nrc'rsttrintcvlin'1er
:;i'1ff'reading
={} cm'
ntals of stone / r'olttmc ()f sh)Ilc
Densitv crf stone =
=92 / a0
I =2.3 E/crn3
completely into the liquid' Since
To find the r-otume pf the cork accurately, it nt-ds to be imrnersed
in liquid, volume of liquid displ66lg.viould not be equal to the rolume of
if*'."r1 fltr.rts the the
the.density of cork.
ih" .ork. Thus it rs,.ruld not be possible to use this meth(d to determine
tran lry -:- -;'
iil r! = mg is a very importantrelationshlp. Candidalrs are advised to remember it- The comrnon
::llstakelsthatmanystudentsus€lhervrcngl.'.mulam=Wgduringexaminations.
{ii} tYhen de:rsity is calcutaied, mass and lolume are required. candidates are allowed to cholse
erlner g cm: or kgJm: as lhe unit s'me ques:ions
'or

2. (a) (li The rteight of the metal block is the reading of

the spring balance,

9'6 \..

(ii) vass' -
="!ii:
the metal btock is the volume of n'ater diSplaced = llocmt
(b) volume of
Den-sitY = mars/ rulunre
=960/ll0
=8735lcm'!

frunlip"-!-;-
{a} {ri Spang balance is used lo measure *.3:3hl t'rhrcF rs a lotce. Beam balance ts used l9 msasute
mass rshtch is the amouni r'f ma':e'
' A2?'. candrdBtes traue l(} afi!/ f" = 13 stj'*ral trTes during examrnalr"s
!, 3. --y:r'.- a.it ;ilrle 1c desct,be !-r1,-'; i'- "i't:'''tat :]le N:lune ol an
obrect bi ')<;"'t"'':-':a1
' t:'1'.':

3. (i) neight .f rhc pcilcs

],,ifr ro*r,, ,o
= 0.66 N

(ii) volume of rnt pellet = 5J / 60O

t r
= 95* l0 c,rr
c
=9.5, l0 rnr
 GCE'O' l .[Vl:[. I'lrr sx-hE)'. l'()lNT'S No.4 Mlss, Wercxr AJ{o Orrrsrrv

(iii) density of the Pt'llct.s = lttt.ll ttt.tss / lotal volttrne

- (,6 / S.Z
=ll.6H/cnt'r
= I l.(r x lOt kH / nt'

(ir,) ntrmber of pe llcts = l.e1) / (0.0r.,6 / 6AA)

= 9t)a0 (.1 :ig. f ig.)

f xanfip 3-;'
(i) The mass of pellets is given in g. The unit ol gravrta,lcnal field strength is Nikg. lt should
be noticed lhat lhere is an inconsistency in the unil ct mass. Candidates need to change
the unit of mass trom,g to kg,
(iil lt is optional to change the unit of volume to mj rere.

(iiil punr,,, can atso be found by' -!a€!g-{-e!e Pg!-e!

volume of one pellel
(iv) A commcn mrstake here is that some students use:he answer in (i) to find the mass
lor one peiret. They are not sure about the drflerence betrveen mass and weight. Mass
should be used lor this question but not the weigti (answer in pan (ill.

l i. (a) (i) rt,eight near the surface of the Earth = ffigr,.,* = 5.0 , 9.S
( ={9N
I
I (ii) weight near the surface of the M'oon = ffigrr*,. = 5.0 x I.6
I _E.ON
(b) (i) Balance K. Its rtorking frrinciple does not depend on the r.alue of acceleration due to gravitr,.
(ii) Balance J. Is reacings depend on the vatue of acceleration due to gravity.

frunlip6=
(a) This is a straightforward question, but it shows that the *'eight is not a constant- lt depencs
on thedistance and also the gravitational tield strength.
(b) Balance K is to compare masses to show readings whereas balance
J uses the grdvitational
pull to show a reading.