Answer:
Mass is an intrinsic property of a body. It was traditionally believed to be related to the quantity of matter in a physical body, until the discovery of the atom and particle physics.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mass is a fundamental property of matter that measures the amount of material in an object. It is often confused with weight, but they are not the same thing. While weight is the force exerted on an object due to gravity, mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object.
The SI unit for mass is the kilogram (kg). Mass can be measured using a balance or a scale. It is important to note that mass is a scalar quantity, meaning it has magnitude but no direction.
Here are a few key points to understand about mass:
1. Mass is constant: The mass of an object remains the same regardless of its location or the gravitational field it is in. For example, a 1 kg mass will have the same mass on Earth, the moon, or even in space.
2. Mass is additive: When two or more objects are combined, the total mass is the sum of their individual masses. For example, if you have two objects with masses of 2 kg and 3 kg, respectively, the total mass would be 5 kg.
3. Mass and inertia: Mass is also related to an object's resistance to changes in its motion, known as inertia. Objects with greater mass have greater inertia and require more force to accelerate or decelerate.
4. Mass and energy: According to Einstein's famous equation, E=mc², mass and energy are interchangeable. This means that mass can be converted into energy and vice versa, as demonstrated in nuclear reactions.
Understanding the concept of mass is essential in various fields, including physics, engineering, and chemistry. It is the basis for understanding concepts like force, momentum, and energy.