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Are mass and weight the same quantities with different units?
1) True
2) False

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Mass and weight are different concepts: Mass is a measure of matter and is constant, while weight is the gravitational force on that mass and can vary with location. The statement that they are the same with different units is false.

Step-by-step explanation:

Mass and weight are not the same quantities with different units; this statement is false. Mass is a measure of how much matter is in an object and is expressed in units such as kilograms or slugs. It is an intrinsic property of an object and does not change regardless of its location. In contrast, weight is the force of gravity acting on an object. It is calculated by multiplying an object's mass (m) by the acceleration due to gravity (g), and is measured in newtons or pounds. Therefore, weight can change depending on the strength of the gravitational field—such as different planets or elevations on Earth.

The confusion between mass and weight often occurs because in everyday language we typically refer to 'mass' incorrectly as 'weight'. For example, we might say that someone's 'weight' is 70 kilograms, but technically this is a measure of mass. The correct unit of measure for weight is newtons, a unit we seldom use in our daily lives.

Since weight is dependent on the gravitational force, an object's weight can vary depending on its location. However, the mass of an object remains constant because it is the amount of matter contained in that object, which does not change with location.

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