4.

Mass, Weight and Density

Syllabus
Candidates should be able to:
(a) state that mass is a measure of the amount of substance in a body.
(b) state that the mass of a body resists change from its state of rest or motion.
(c) state that a gravitational field is a region in which a mass experiences a force due to gravitational attraction.
(d) recall and use the equation weight = mass × gravitational field strength.
(e) explain that weights, and therefore masses, may be compared using a balance.
(f) describe how to measure mass and weight by using appropriate balances.
(g) describe how to use a measuring cylinder to measure the volume of a liquid or solid.
(h) describe how to determine the density of a liquid, of a regularly shaped solid and of an irregularly shaped solid
which sinks in water (volume by displacement).
(i) define density and recall and use the formula density = mass/volume.

1) Mass:
 Mass is the measure of the amount of substance in a body.
 Mass of a body resists change from its state of rest or motion (also known as inertia).
 It remains constant everywhere in the universe and does not change with location or shape.
 It is a scalar quantity.
 It is dependent on number and composition of atoms and molecules that make up a body.
 It’s SI Unit is: Kilogram (Kg).
 It is measured using a balance which compares a known amount of matter to an unknown
amount of matter such as a beam balance or a calibrated electronic balance.

2) Weight:
 It is a force. Weight is the measurement of the pull of earth. The weight of an object is the
gravitational force or gravity acting on it.
 It is variable and changes with height and in situations such as:

1. Going from Earth to Moon (Any other planet)

2. Free-fall i.e. rocket & elevator -> Weight varies as we go up and down

3. Deep space -> No gravity hence weightless

4. In water -> Less weight due to up thrust

 It is a vector quantity and it’s direction is downwards, towards the centre of the earth.
 It’s SI Unit is: Newton (N).
 It’s formula is: W = ma or mg.
 It’s measured using a newton meter or spring balance.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q. Do you know why objects fall to the ground after you throw them up in the air?

A. This is because a force called weight pulls them towards the earth. This force is the gravitational
pull exerted by earth. (Explanation↓)
E. Earth has higher mass but lesser acceleration as compared to human/object acceleration which
is more and it allows humans/objects to fall towards earth. (Earth → Mass ↑ , Acceleration ↓ )
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How are mass and weight related?

Weight is dependent on mass. They are directly proportional. More mass means more weight (greater

gravitational force acting on it) and vice versa. [ ↑↓ W = M ↓↑ G (constant) ]

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) Gravitational Field:
  Gravitational Field is a region in which a mass experiences a force due to gravitational attraction.
 Any object near earth experiences a force due to earth’s gravity. The gravitational force experienced
at surface of earth is strongest and gets weaker further away.

Note: Word “region” must be used instead of “area” as region is 3D (e.g. earth, moon etc.) and area
is 2D.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4) Gravitational Field Strength (with an example of moon and earth’s g):

 Gravitational Field Strength g is defined as the gravitational force acting per unit mass.

 Weight of an object depends on strength of gravitational force acting on it.

Example: Moon’s gravitational field strength is weaker than earth’s so objects on moon weigh less.

1) Earth’s Gravitational Field Strength = 10 N/Kg

Gravitational field strength (10 N/Kg) is equal to acceleration of free fall (10 m/s -2)
2) Moon’s Gravitational Field Strength = 1.6 N/Kg
What do common weighing instruments measure?

→ Common weighing instruments like electronic balance, spring balance and bathroom scale
actually measure the weight of an object nor it’s mass. However they are calibrated to give readings in
grams (g) or kilograms (kg). (They give different mass readings at different G.F.S)

→ A weighing scale calibrated for use on earth cannot be used on moon. Weighing scale has to be
calibrated to the moon’s gravitational field strength in order to give accurate mass measurements on
moon.

To avoid having to calibrate weighing scales for different gravitational field strength’s, the mass
can be measured using?

Beam Balance → It compares the gravitational force acting on an object with that acting on standard
masses. As both the object and standard masses experience same G.F.S, the mass
reading will be same wherever it is taken (earth, moon or any other planet).
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Comparison of Mass & Weight

Mass Weight

An amount of substance A gravitational force

Scalar quantity Vector quantity

Constant and doesn’t change with location Variable and changes with height & location

SI Unit: Kilogram (Kg) SI Unit: Newton (N)

Independent of G.F.S and constant Dependent on G.F.S and variable

Relation with inertia No relation with inertia

Measured with beam or calibrated electronic Measured with a spring balance or newton
balance meter

Measures mass

Measures weight Pair of Scales

(Pan Balance or similar
Newton Meter or Spring
looking Beam Balance)
Balance

5) Inertia:
The inertia of an object refers to the reluctance or resistance of the object to change its state of
rest or motion, due to its mass.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How are mass and inertia related (with a seat belt example)?
 Mass is a measure of inertia. Inertia depends on the mass of a body.
 They are directly proportional. An object/body with a greater mass will have greater inertia and vice
versa.
 Larger the mass of an object, the harder it will be for the object to start moving, slow down, move
faster or change direction. (Greater mass = Greater inertia = Difficulty in movement)

Seat Belt Example: If the driver suddenly applies brakes, he will continue to move forward due to his
inertia and crash into windscreen without a seat belt holding him back. Seat belt provides necessary
opposing force that stops driver.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

6i) Measurement of volume of a liquid:

Place the graduated cylinder on a flat surface and see the height of
the liquid in the cylinder with your eyes directly level with the liquid.
The liquid will tend to curve downward. This curve is called meniscus.
Volume difference
Always read the measurement at the bottom of the meniscus.

Q. What is meniscus?
A. It is the curved upper surface of a liquid in a measuring cylinder,
tube, glass and etc.
Irregular shaped
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
object
6ii) Measurement of volume of an irregular shaped solid:
1) Choose a graduated/measuring cylinder that the irregular

solid/object will easily fit inside.

2) Take some water in the cylinder and read the lower meniscus

(curved upper surface of a liquid), let it be V1.

3) Put the object in the cylinder and note the new reading of water

after the object is completely submerged, let it be V2.

4) Find the volume of the object by subtracting both readings.

5) (Volume = V2-V1) (m3 or cm3)

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

7) Density:
 Density (also called row) of a substance is defined as its mass per unit volume. It is the measure of
how much mass is packed into a given space.

 It is a scalar quantity.
 It’s SI unit is kilogram per cubic metre (kg/m-3) or gram per cubic centimetre (g/cm-3).
7a) Formula:

p=m where p is the density, m is the mass, and V is the volume.

V

7b) Conversion:
 To convert from g/cm-3 to kg/m-3 → multiply by 1000.

 To convert from kg/m-3 to g/cm-3 → divide by 1000.

7c) Densities of some common substances:

1) Air 1 kg/m-3 3) Copper 9000 kg/m-3 5) Mercury 13 600 kg/m-3

2) Water 1000 kg/m-3 4) Gold 19 300 kg/m-3 6) Glass 2500 kg/m-3

7d) Importance:
It can be used to identify substances such as calculating the density of gold ring to find out
whether it is made of pure gold or not. If not, then it must have some impurities.

7e) Average Density:

The average density of an object is calculated by dividing its total mass by its total volume.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q. Why does a heavy steel ship float and doesn’t sink in water?

A. It is made up of more than one material. In addition to steel, it contains a large volume of air in the
various rooms and cabins. The average density of ship is less than the density of sea water which is about
(1025 kg/m-3).

Q. Why does a heavy steel ship float and a small iron ball sinks in water?

A. Large Ship Small Iron Ball

↓p = m↑ ↑p = m↓
V↑ V↓
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

i) To determine density of a liquid:

Apparatus: burette, beaker, electronic balance and retort stand

Procedure:

1. Measure the mass m1 of a dry, clean beaker using electronic balance.

2. Run a volume V of liquid from the burette into beaker.

3. Measure the mass m2 of beaker and the liquid using electronic balance.

4. Apply p = m2-m1/V (g/cm-3 or kg/m-3).

Precaution: Make sure that your eyes are level with the base
of the meniscus of the liquid.

ii) To determine density of regular objects:

Apparatus: vernier calipers, metre rule, electronic balance

Procedure:

1. Measure the mass m using the electronic balance.

2. Determine the volume V by taking appropriate measurements and then calculating volume using
the following formulae:

a) Cuboid → V = l x b x h

b) Cylinder → V = ( π d2 /4) x h a
d /2 3
b c
c) Sphere → V = 4/3 )
π¿
3. Apply p = m/V (g/cm-3 or kg/m-3)

Precaution: Check the instruments used for zero error, and avoid parallax error when taking
readings.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Alternative method to:

i) determine density of a liquid:
 1) Measure the mass m of liquid in measuring cylinder by electronic balance.
2) Measure the volume V of liquid by measuring cylinder.
3) Apply p = m/V (g/cm-3 or kg/m-3).

ii) determine density of regular objects:

1) Measure the mass m of object by electronic balance.
2) Measure the volume V of object by geometrical method.
3) Apply p = m/V (g/cm-3 or kg/m-3).

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

iii) To determine density of irregular objects: Volume difference

Measuring volume by displacement method:

1) Choose a graduated/measuring cylinder that the irregular

solid/object will easily fit inside. Irregular shaped

object
2) Take some water in the cylinder and read the lower meniscus

(curved upper surface of a liquid), let it be V1.

3) Put the object in the cylinder and note the new reading of water

after the object is completely submerged, let it be V2.

4) Find the volume V of the object by subtracting both readings.

(V = V2-V1)
5) Measure the mass of object by electronic balance, let it be m.
6) Apply p = m/V (g/cm-3 or kg/m-3).

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(End of chapter)

Summary:
(Mass)

1) Mass is the amount of substance in a body.

2) The SI Unit of mass is the kilogram (kg).
3) The mass of an object is a physical property of the object. It does not change when there is a
change in the gravitational field strength.

(Weight)

4) Weight is the force acting on an object due to gravity.

5) The SI Unit of weight is newton (N).
6) The weight of a body is related to its mass by the equation (W=mg).
 (Gravitational Field Strength)

7) Gravitational field strength g is the gravitational force acting per unit mass.
8) The gravitational field strength at a place in N kg-1 is the same as the acceleration of free fall in
m s -2 experienced at the same place.
9) The weight of an object varies according to the strength of the gravitational field it is in.

(Inertia)

10) The inertia of an object is the objects reluctance to change its state of rest or motion, due to its
mass.
11) Mass is a measure of inertia. The larger the mass of an object, the greater its inertia.

(Density)

12) The density of an object is defined as its mass per unit volume.
13) The SI Unit of density is the kilogram per cubic metre (kg m -3) (1000 kg m-3 = 1 g cm-3).
14) Objects that are less dense than water will float on water.
15) Objects that are denser than water will sink in water.
16) Density = Mass/Volume.

How are mass and volume related?

Mass is directly proportional to volume.
Greater mass means greater volume.

(Option C)