Do you know the difference between ‘mass’ and ‘weight’? Although people often use these terms interchangeably, they are different concepts. Even though this post does not intend to explain this difference from the point of view of physics (we are not a physics blog after all), knowing how to use these words correctly is important! To find out this difference, keep reading.
Mass
Mass is the amount of matter in a body. So your mass will be the same everywhere: on Earth, on Saturn, on Mars, or even in space.
Example sentences using the word ‘mass’:
“Women on oral contraceptives tend to increase fat and decrease lean muscle mass” (latimes.com)
“This is one of the most accurate measurements of the mass of a neutrino to date” (sciensedaily.com)
“Some of the mass is converted to energy in the form of gamma radiation and heat” (newscientist.com)
Weight
Weight is the force exerted on a body by gravity. So, your weight will vary depending on where you are. If you are on a planet where gravity is weaker – such as Mars, you will weigh less. If you are on a planet where gravity is stronger – such as Neptune, you will weigh more.
Example sentences using the word ‘weight’:
“He was stunned by the weight of his pumpkin, which he grew on his one-acre plot” (sfgate.com)
“It sounds odd but I actually managed to put on weight on my five-day ordeal” (telegraph.co.uk)
“I’ve recently been trying to lose weight and am rather pleased with the results” (newscientist.com)
Now that you know the difference between ‘mass’ and ‘weight’, you can use these words properly and never be confused again!
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