Mass and Weight
Mass and Weight: Overview
This topic deals with the concept of mass and weight. It explains the difference between both terms. Different cases of mass and weight of the body on the moon in comparison of the earth also discussed here along with derived formulas and diagrams.
Important Questions on Mass and Weight
Which device is used to measure the mass of a body? (Spring balance/Pan balance)

The weight of same body is different at earth and at moon.

The weight of an object at the centre of the earth is

You must have seen two types of balance. A grocer has a balance with two pans and a needle moving on a scale. Some junk dealers (Kabadiwalas) may be using a spring balance to weight used newspapers. Suppose the two balances give the same measure for a given body on the earth. Now, you take the balances on the moon. Would the two balances give the same measure? Explain.

You buy a bag of sugar of weight at a place on the equator. You take this to Antarctica. Would its weight be the same there? If not, would it increase or decrease?

Suppose the radius of the earth is reduced to half of its present value and its mass remaining the same then what will be effect on the value of weight of an object of mass .

(i) If the acceleration due to gravity on Mars is , then what would be the weight of an object on mars which has a mass of on earth?
(ii) What would be its weight on earth?
(iii) From the above data, analyse what will be the percentage difference of your weight on earth and on mars?

Calculate the weight of an astronaut whose mass is on the surface of earth and on the surface of moon. Given that the acceleration due to gravity at moon is one-sixth of that of earth.

Mass of an object is . What is its weight on the earth

Define mass of an object.

Suppose the radius of the earth becomes twice of its present radius, without any change in its mass, what will happen to your weight?

Suppose the mass of the earth somehow increases by without any change in its size. What would happen to our weight?

The weight of a body at the centre of earth is _____.

Weight is measured by _____ balance.

A body of has a mass of _____ on the surface of moon.

A body of has a mass of _____() at the centre of earth.

Weight of a body on moon is six times of the weight of the body on earth.

Mass of a body on earth is of the mass on moon.

A body weighs on the surface of earth. What will be its weight on the surface of moon?

Mass of an object is . What is its weight?
