Mass versus Weight

How are weight and mass different?

To understand the differences we need to compare a few points:

1) Mass is a measurement of the amount of matter something contains, while Weight is the measurement of the pull of gravity on an object.

2) Mass is measured by using a balance comparing a known amount of matter to an unknown amount of matter. Weight is measured on a scale.

3) The Mass of an object doesn't change when an object's location changes. Weight, on the otherhand does change with location.


If a cube has a mass of 90.91 kilograms and a weight of 200 pounds on Earth, what will its mass and weight be on another planet?

Base your answer on the gravity stated for each planet.
Please enter your answer in the space provided:


The Moon has a gravity that is 0.165 of Earth's.

The cube will have a weight of
pounds
and a mass of
kilograms
If you need a calculator one is available. Click on calculator in the left frame.


Venus has a gravity that is 0.88 of Earth's.
The cube will have a weight of
pounds
and a mass of
kilograms
If you need a calculator one is available. Click on calculator in the left frame.


Jupiter has a gravity that is 2.34 times greater than Earth's.
The cube will have a weight of
pounds
and a mass of
kilograms
If you need a calculator one is available. Click on calculator in the left frame.

What do you weigh on another planet?

Enter what you weigh on Earth then click on the next blank space.

On Earth you weigh pounds.
On the Mercury you weigh pounds.
On the Mars you weigh pounds.
On the Jupiter you weigh pounds.
On the Saturn you weigh pounds.
On the Moon you weigh pounds.

Want to know more about the planets then click here.

Please send comments to cammarot@is3.nyu.edu.

Return to the chapter on Mass.