What experiments can show the difference between mass and weight?

Experiments involving scales in different gravitational fields can show the difference between mass and weight.

One of the simplest ways to understand the difference between mass and weight is to conduct an experiment using scales. This experiment can be done on Earth and then repeated in a different gravitational field, such as on the Moon or in space.

Firstly, you would measure the mass of an object on Earth using a balance. This measurement is the mass of the object, which is a measure of the amount of matter in the object. It is measured in kilograms (kg) and does not change regardless of where the object is in the universe.

Next, you would measure the weight of the same object on Earth using a spring scale. This measurement is the weight of the object, which is a measure of the force of gravity acting on the object. It is measured in newtons (N) and does change depending on where the object is in the universe.

Then, you would repeat these measurements on the Moon or in space. The mass of the object would remain the same, as the amount of matter in the object has not changed. However, the weight of the object would decrease on the Moon and become zero in space, as the force of gravity is less on the Moon and zero in space.

This experiment clearly shows that mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object and does not change with location, while weight is a measure of the force of gravity acting on an object and does change with location. Therefore, mass and weight are not the same thing, even though they are often used interchangeably in everyday language.