Measurement of Mass and Weight

Measurement of Mass

Mass is the quantity of matter contained in a body. The mass of an object is measured in kilogram (kg). The mass of an object is measured by a beam balance. A beam balance consists of two pans. The object whose weight is to be measured should be kept in one pan and the standard objects should be kept in another pan until the pans are balanced. A beam balance is shown in the figure.
Various units are used in the measurement of the mass of an object. The light objects are measured in gram and milligram whereas heavy objects are measured in quintal and ton.

Some information on units of mass

How much mass is called one kilogram?

"Kilogram" means the mass of the platinum-iridium cylinder declared to be the international prototype of the kilogram by the First General Conference on Measurement and Weight and maintained at the International Bureau of Measurement and Weight, France. The amount of kilogram is equal all over the world.

Activity
Bring a beam balance and different weight units or weight scale. Then measure the mass of your all textbooks and compare their weight with eachother.

Measurement of weight

When we throw some things up into the sky, it returns back to the surface of the earth. All the things like rain, fruits, snow, etc fall on the surface of the earth. It is due to the earth's force of gravity. All the objects are pulled towards the center of the earth due to its force of gravity. The weight of an object is the gravitational force between earth and object. Weight is a force. The weight of an object is measured by using spring balance. The more the mass, the more weight it has. The weight is measured in Newton(N). On the surface of the earth mass having 1 kg has the weight of 10 kg. The weight of an object is the product of its mass and the force of gravity acting on it.

Weight(W)= mass(m) \(\times\) force of gravity(g)

As we know that, the earth is not a perfect circle. So, the force of gravity is not equal in all the places. Because of this, the weight of an object differs from place to place.