The measure of the amount of matter in an object is the object’s mass.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
The measure of the amount of matter in an object is called its mass.
Explanation
Mass is a fundamental property of physical objects. It refers to the quantity of matter that an object contains. Unlike weight, which depends on the force of gravity acting on an object, mass remains constant regardless of location in the universe. For example, a rock has the same mass on Earth as it does on the Moon, even though its weight would be different due to the lower gravitational pull on the Moon.
Mass is typically measured in units such as grams (g) or kilograms (kg) using a balance or scale. A balance compares the object’s mass to a known standard, which makes it effective even in zero-gravity environments like outer space. In physics, mass plays a central role in Newton’s laws of motion. It determines how much an object will resist a change in its motion (inertia) and also how it interacts with other masses through gravitational force.
The mass of an object can also be considered at the atomic or molecular level. At this scale, it is the total mass of all the atoms and subatomic particles (protons, neutrons, and electrons) that make up the object. In chemistry, molar mass is often used to relate the mass of a substance to the number of particles or moles present.
Mass should not be confused with volume, which is the amount of space an object occupies. Two objects can have the same volume but different masses if they are made of different materials. For instance, a block of iron is much denser—and therefore has more mass—than an equal-sized block of Styrofoam.
Understanding mass is essential in many fields, including physics, chemistry, engineering, and astronomy. It affects motion, structure, and interactions between objects, making it a foundational concept in science.
