Which statement correctly describes the difference between mass and weight?

• A. Mass is the amount of matter; weight is the gravitational force on the mass.
• B. Mass and weight are the same quantity measured in newtons.
• C. Weight is the amount of matter; mass is the gravitational force.
• D. Mass is measured in newtons; weight is measured in kilograms.

Answer: (A)

Mass is the amount of matter in an object, which doesn't change with location. Weight is the gravitational force acting on that mass, so it can change if gravity changes. This is why the correct description is that mass is the amount of matter and weight is the gravitational force on that mass. Weight can vary with where you are (Earth, Moon, etc.) because gravity differs, while mass stays the same. Mass is measured in kilograms, and weight is measured in newtons (weight = mass × gravitational acceleration).

The other choices mix up these ideas: mass and weight aren’t the same quantity and aren’t both measured in newtons; weight isn’t the amount of matter; and the units are swapped in the remaining option.