What is Difference between Mass and Weight:
| Mass | Weight |
|---|---|
| Mass is simply the measure of the amount of matter in a body. | Weight is the measure of the amount of force acting on a mass due to acceleration due to gravity. |
| Mass is denoted by “M”. | Weight is denoted by “W”. |
| Mass is calculated by formula Mass = volume × density | Weight is calculated by formula Weight = mass × acceleration due to gravity |
| Mass only has magnitude and so, it is a scalar quantity. | Weight has both magnitude and direction (towards the centre of gravity) and so, it is a vector quantity. |
| Mass does not depend upon gravity and is constant everywhere. | Weight is dependent on gravity and so, it varies from place to place. |
| The SI unit of mass is Kilogram (Kg). | The SI unit of weight is Newton (N). |
| Mass can be easily measured using any ordinary balance like beam balance, lever balance, pan balance, etc. | Weight can be measured by a spring balance or by using its formula. |
| It can never be zero | It can be zero when no gravity is acting on it. |
| It is not changed by changing the position.; | It is changed by changing the position. |