Physics
Physics
Problem
(i) Define mass and weight. (ii) State any two differences between mass and weight. (iii) Explain, with reason, why the weight of a body varies from place to place on the Earth while its mass remains unchanged.Intuitive explanation
Mass is the amount of matter in an object—a fundamental, unchanging property. Weight is the gravitational force that Earth (or another body) exerts on that mass, so it depends on local gravity. The key insight is that mass is intrinsic while weight is relational: the same object has one mass everywhere, but different weights on different planets or even at different altitudes on Earth, because gravitational field strength varies with distance from Earth's center and latitude.
Intuitive explanation
Mass is the amount of matter in an object—a fundamental, unchanging property. Weight is the gravitational force that Earth (or another body) exerts on that mass, so it depends on local gravity. The key insight is that mass is intrinsic while weight is relational: the same object has one mass everywhere, but different weights on different planets or even at different altitudes on Earth, because gravitational field strength varies with distance from Earth's center and latitude.