Final answer:
Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object, determined by the number and types of atoms, and is independent of location or gravitational forces. Mass is consistent everywhere, unlike weight, which can vary based on location due to gravitational pull. Both a kilogram of cotton balls and a kilogram of gold have equal mass but differ in volume and density.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term mass refers to a measure of the amount of matter that an object contains. Mass fundamentally depends on the number and types of atoms in the object, representing the object's internal make-up, independent of its location or the gravitational forces acting upon it. Unlike mass, weight is a force that results from the gravitational pull on an object and changes with location. When we say that an object has a mass of one kilogram, we are comparing it to the standard kilogram, ensuring consistency across measurements.
Mass does not change regardless of where the object is located—whether on Earth, in orbit, or on the Moon—because it is an intrinsic property of the object. This is different from weight, which can vary depending on the gravitational pull of the body that the object is on. In a laboratory, mass is typically measured with a balance that must be calibrated with a standard mass to ensure accuracy.
Regarding the provided exercise, a kilogram of cotton balls and a kilogram of gold have the same mass. What differs between the two is their volume and density, not mass.