We all learn about mass and matter in grade school, but what’s the difference between them? Mass is the quantity of an object’s inertia, or how resistant it is to change its state of motion. Matter, on the other hand, refers to any substance that has mass and occupies space. In everyday life, we rarely think about the differences between mass and matter, but they’re important concepts to understand if you want to become a physicist!
What is Mass?
Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object. It is usually measured in grams (g) or kilograms (kg). Mass is different from weight, which is a measure of the force exerted by gravity on an object. An object with a large mass has a large amount of matter, while an object with a small mass has a small amount of matter. Mass is also different from volume, which is a measure of the amount of space an object takes up. An object with a large mass can have a small volume and vice versa.
What is Matter?
- The matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. All matter is made up of atoms, which are the smallest units of matter. Atoms are made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons have a positive charge, neutrons have no charge, and electrons have a negative charge. The number of protons in an atom determines what element the atom is.
- Matter can be either solid, liquid, or gas. Solids have a definite shape and volume. Liquids have a definite volume but no definite shape. Gases have neither a definite shape nor a definite volume. The states of matter are determined by how much energy the particles in the matter have.
- Matter can also be either pure or impure. Pure substances are made up of only one kind of atom or molecule and have the same properties throughout. Impure substances are made up of two or more kinds of atoms or molecules and can have different properties in different areas. The matter is everywhere around us. We are made of matter, as is everything else in the universe!
Difference between Mass and Matter
Mass and matter are often used interchangeably in everyday conversations, but they actually refer to two different things. Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object, whereas matter is the physical substance that makes up an object.
- In other words, mass is a quantitative property, while the matter is a physical substance. This can be confusing, so let’s look at an example. A block of wood has a certain mass, which refers to the amount of matter it contains.
- The matter that makes up the block of wood is the physical substance of the wood itself. So, when you weigh a block of wood on a scale, you are actually measuring its mass. Mass can be measured in grams, pounds, or ounces, while matter can only be observed and described qualitatively.
- For example, you can describe the matter in a block of wood as being “solid,” “brown,” and “wooden.” Mass and matter are both important concepts in physics and chemistry. By understanding the difference between them, you can improve your scientific literacy.
Conclusion
So, what is the difference between mass and matter? Mass refers to an object’s resistance to change in motion, while the matter is everything that has mass and occupies space. Matter can be divided into atoms and molecules, which are the smallest units of an element that have the chemical properties of that element. Atoms are made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons, while molecules are complex structures made up of two or more atoms bonded together.
