2040 – 02 – What is Mass and Weight

Mass and weight are common terms, and are often used as synonyms. But mass and weight actually have two distinct meanings:

Mass refers to the number of molecules packed into an object. If a material has great mass, it has more tightly packed molecules. It’s also key to remember that an object’s mass remains the same regardless of its weight.

Weight describes gravity’s pull on an object. Consider this example: an object floating in the ocean might weigh less than an object sitting on land, but they both have the same mass.