To find the mass of an object, there are several common methods and formulas depending on what information is available:
- Using density and volume: Mass = Density × Volume. If you know the density of the material and how much space (volume) it occupies, multiply these values to get its mass.
- Using force and acceleration: Mass = Force ÷ Acceleration. This can be used if you know the force applied on an object and the acceleration it produces.
- Using weight and gravitational acceleration: Mass = Weight ÷ Gravitational Acceleration. If the weight (force of gravity) acting on an object is known along with the local gravity, you can calculate the mass by dividing weight by gravitational acceleration.
Mass can also be directly measured using mechanical balances such as beam balance, lever balance, or pan balance. In physics, mass is the amount of matter present in an object, and the SI unit of mass is the kilogram (kg). Mass is a fundamental property and stays constant regardless of location.
