MASS AND WEIGHT

Tr. TONNY
 MASS
• The mass of an object is the measure of the
amount of matter in it.
• The unit of mass is the kilogram (kg)
• The gram (g) is one-thousandth of a kilogram.
 WEIGHT
• Define weight
• Differences between mass and
weight
• End of Chapter Exercise
 WEIGHT
• Weight is an example of a FORCE.
• Weight is defined as the gravitational pull
(force) on an object.
Weight = mass x gravity
W = mxg
»And gravity 10m/s2
»Weight is measured in Newton(N)
• Because of its direction, Weight is a vector.
EXAMPLE TASK
Determine the Work out the
weight of a mass following weights on
2kg on earth Earth.
• 0.05kg
W = mxg
• 50kg
= 2 x 10
• 200kg
= 20N • 1000kg
• 0.2kg
 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MASS AND WEIGHT

• Mass is constant while weight varies

• Mass is measured in kg while weight is
measured in Newton
• Mass is a SCALAR quantity while weight is a
vector
• Mass is a basic quantity where as weight a
DERIVED quantity.
 Exercise (take g =10m/s ) 2

1. Rocks of mass 5kg and 20kg are falling from space and
are near the earth’s surface. What is the weight of
each rock?
2. If a body has weight 1500N, what is its mass on the
earth?
3. A particle of mass 0.05kg weighs 10N on planet mars.
Calculate the acceleration to gravity on planet mars.
4. A boy whose weight on earth is 500N goes to a planet
where the acceleration due to gravity is 5.2m/s2.
Determine the weight of this boy on this planet.
 ANSWERS
1. W = 50N and 200N 4. Mass of boy
2. W = 150kg = 500 ÷ 10
= 50kg
3. W = mxg
His weight on
10= 0.05 x g
planet
g = 10 ÷ 0.05
= 50 x 5.2
= 200m/s2
= 260N
DENSITY
 EXAMPLE
• Calculate the density of a stone of mass 5g
and volume 24cm3

• Find the mass of copper of density 9g/cm3 if

its volume is 5cm3
 Determining the density of an Irregular
shaped object like a stone

• The mass of the solid is

found on a balance.
• Its volume is measured
by the method shown in
diagram.
• The volume is the
difference between the
first and second readings.
Alternatively, the displacement method can
be used.
• The volume of the
object is the volume of
water collected in the
measuring cylinder.
• The density of the
object is then calculated
using the formula.
 Floating and sinking
• An object sinks in a liquid of lower density than
its own; otherwise it floats, partly or wholly
submerged.
• For example, a piece of glass of density 2.5
g/cm3 sinks in water (density 1.0 g/cm3) but
floats in mercury (density 13.6 g/cm3).
• An iron nail sinks in water but an iron ship floats
because its average density is less than that of
water.