Which statement correctly defines mass?

Which statement correctly defines mass?

• A. The amount of matter in an object
• B. The size of an object
• C. The weight of an object
• D. The color of an object

Answer: (A)

Mass is the amount of matter in an object. It tells us how much stuff something is made of—the number and type of atoms it contains. Mass stays the same whether you’re on Earth, the Moon, or in space, because it depends on the quantity of matter, not on gravity. Weight is the force of gravity on that mass, so it can change with location. Color has nothing to do with how much matter there is. So the statement that mass is the amount of matter in an object is the best definition.

Mass is the amount of matter in an object. It tells us how much stuff something is made of—the number and type of atoms it contains. Mass stays the same whether you’re on Earth, the Moon, or in space, because it depends on the quantity of matter, not on gravity. Weight is the force of gravity on that mass, so it can change with location. Color has nothing to do with how much matter there is. So the statement that mass is the amount of matter in an object is the best definition.