Difference between mass and weight

The study of physics has two quantities people usually interchange, but they are not the same entity. These two entities are mass and weight. There is a constant use of one in place of the other, but we should understand that physics considers it two different entities. Where one is the property of the body and remains constant, the other is the force a body experiences due to the action of a certain planet. Let's understand both of these and clear out our doubts here.

Mass

We define mass as the total amount of substance (matter) constrained within the preset dimensions of a body.

In classical mechanics, we define mass as the measure of the body's tendency to resist change in its rest or motion state. It is inertia, and it determines the force that would bring a change in its state.

Weight

We define weight as the value of force that the earth applies to your body due to its gravity. The value weight is a product of the body's mass and acceleration due to the earth's gravity. Therefore, this value is not constant even on the earth's surface (due to the changing value of acceleration due to gravity).

Difference Between Mass and Weight

Frequently Asked Question about the Difference Between Mass and Weight

Ques: Does the mass of the body change from planet to planet?
No, the mass of a body will remain constant on every planet because it is not affected by gravity or any other planet entity. It is an intrinsic property of the body, and it doesn't change as per the surroundings. However, the weight of a body will change when the acceleration due to gravity changes.

Ques: When a body experiences weightlessness, will it also be considered massless?
No, weightlessness is the condition when there is no downward acting force on the body. It also means that a body is not experiencing a constant gravitational pull due to a planet; however, it still has mass. Mass is an intrinsic property of the body, and it will remain constant until the body ceases to exist.