Science Common Sense

209 - What is the difference between mass and weight?

The difference between mass and weight is often misunderstood, but it's simple.

Mass is a measure of how much 'stuff' is inside something, like how many atoms or particles make it up. This doesn't change no matter where you are in the world.

Weight, on the other hand, is a measure of the force pulling something down, like the Earth's gravity. This can change depending on where you are in the world. For example, if you weighed 100 pounds on Earth, you would weigh less on the moon because the moon has weaker gravity.

Think of it like this: Mass is what you are, and weight is how the Earth pulls on you.