What is the difference between weight and mass?
The mass is the factor of proportionality M in the formula F = M a, where F is the force and a is the acceleration. We can measure the mass of a body with this formula : you apply a given force and divide it by the acceleration that is observed. If you were to go in empty space far away from earth or other planets, you still have the same mass. If we pushed your body with a given force, it would still accelerate in the same way. This is because your mass is fixed : it is the same on earth or in empty space. However, you won’t feel any weight in empty space far from earth. The weight is the force that is exerced on you by a surrounding mass (usually the planet earth). The laws of physics says that this force is proportional to your mass. Others details such as whether you are made of metal or organic material are irrelevant. A dense body in metal with a mass of 1kg (measured by the formula F = M a) is not more attracted to earth than another, less dense, body of 1kg that would be made i
