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mass

Primary Information
Secondary Information

Definition

Mass is the amount of matter in an object. It is measured in grams or kilograms.

The more matter an object has, the more mass it has. For example, a bowling ball has more mass than a baseball.

Mass is different from weight. Weight is the force of gravity on an object. It is measured in newtons.

The weight of an object changes depending on the strength of gravity. For example, an object weighs less on the moon than it does on Earth.

How can the word be used?

The sun has a mass that is about 333,000 times the mass of the Earth.

mass

Different forms of the word

Noun:

  • A large amount of matter.
  • A quantity of matter that has a definite volume but no definite shape.
  • The quantity of matter in a body, usually measured in kilograms.
  • The gravitational attraction between two bodies.
  • The Catholic Mass.

Adjective:

  • Relating to or having a large amount of matter.
  • Relating to or having a large number of people.

Verb:

  • To gather or assemble in a large group.
  • To have or possess a large amount of matter.
  • To celebrate Mass.

Etymology

The word "mass" comes from the Latin word "massa", which means "lump" or "clod".

The word "mass" was first used in English in the 14th century. It was originally used to describe a large amount of matter, but it soon came to be used in a more general sense to describe anything that was large or bulky.

Question

What is the mass of an object?