The Difference Between Mass and Weight: Explaining the Concept to Class 4 Students

What is Mass?

Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object. It is a constant property of an object and does not change with the object’s location or environment. Mass is measured in units of grams, kilograms, or pounds.

To understand mass, imagine a box of feathers and a box of bricks. The box of feathers is larger in size and volume than the box of bricks, but it has less mass because the feathers are less dense than the bricks.

What is Weight?

Weight is the force exerted on an object due to the pull of gravity. It is dependent on the object’s mass and the force of gravity. Weight can change depending on an object’s location or environment. Weight is measured in units of newtons, pounds, or kilograms.

To understand weight, imagine a person weighing 50 kilograms on Earth. If that same person were to stand on the moon, they would weigh approximately 1/6th of their Earth weight because the force of gravity on the moon is weaker than on Earth.

The Relationship Between Mass and Weight

Although mass and weight are related, they are not the same thing. It is important to understand the distinction between the two concepts. Mass stays the same regardless of where an object is, but weight changes based on the pull of gravity on that object.

For example, a 10-kilogram mass will always have the same mass, but its weight will vary depending on where it is located. On Earth, it will weigh approximately 98 newtons (or 22 pounds) due to the pull of gravity. On the moon, it will weigh approximately 16.3 newtons (or 3.67 pounds) due to the weaker gravitational force.

Conclusion

In summary, mass and weight are two different concepts that are often confused. Mass is the amount of matter in an object and stays the same regardless of location, while weight is the force of gravity on an object and can change based on location. It is important to understand the difference between the two to accurately describe an object’s physical properties.

Table difference between mass and weight for class 4

Difference between Mass and Weight

Mass	Weight
Mass refers to the amount of matter in an object.	Weight refers to the force with which an object is attracted towards the earth due to gravity.
Mass is measured in grams (g) or kilograms (kg).	Weight is measured in Newtons (N).
Mass remains the same irrespective of the location or gravity.	Weight can vary depending upon the location and gravity.
Mass is an intrinsic property of an object.	Weight is a variable property and depends upon the location and gravity.