Q4CQ - College Physics (Urone)

Question

 What is the relationship between weight and mass? Which is an intrinsic, unchanging property of a body?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Weight is the product of mass and force due to gravity. Mass is an intrinsic, unchanging property of the body.

Step 1: Relationship between weight and mass

Mass is a measure of the quantity of matter present in something. The amount of matter depends on the number of molecules contained.

Weight is the product of mass and force due to gravity.

Mathematically,

$W =mg$

Here${}^W$  is the weight,${}^m$ is the mass, and${}^{\theta }$ is the acceleration due to gravity.

Step 2: Intrinsic and unchanging property of the body

Mass is an intrinsic property of a body, whereas weight is an extrinsic property as it depends on the gravitational field of the body. Mass does not change with location and remains the same everywhere.