Mass And Weight Essay

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To distinguish between mass and weight, one must know the basic definition of the two terms. Mass is typically defined as a measurement of how much matter in in an object or amount of inertia it holds. While weight is a measurement of how hard gravity pulls on the object. The mass always contains the same amount of matter however, the amount an objects weighs may fluctuate due to the gravity. The weight of an object depends on where it is, whereas mass always remains the same; mass does not change given the location in which it is found. Using the United States metric system, mass is measured in kilograms and grams using the metric system, whereas weight is measured in pounds. Objects in Scientists typically express their ides in speak …show more content…

Weight can be zero, as weight is dependent on the gravitational pull on an object. When more gravity exists, the heavier the object is; when less gravity exists, the lighter the object is. For example, if a person weighing 120 pounds weighed themselves on earth, their weight would register at 120 pounds. However, if that same person were to weigh themselves on the moon, they would weight virtually because no gravity exists. As a person moves further away from earth, the increments of the units of weight would gradually decrease. Another example, is to take two objects, one having more mass than the other, and drop both objects at the same time. Both objects would fall at the same rate due to the gradational pull on both (textbook).

Sir Isaac Newton formulated three laws which describe the motion of objects and how the interact. In summary, Newton’s first law of motion states, an object will remain in a static position or constant motion until acted upon by an external opposing force (textbook). Examples of this law can be seen in our everyday lives in various situations. For instance, a driver holding a cup of coffee while operating a vehicle at a constant speed, has to make an abrupt stop. The coffee would then go from a resting state to a forward motion at the speed and direction of the

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