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A scaleWe measure mass directly; there is a "massometer." But we do have scales, which measure weight, which is directly proportional to mass. (Hyper-technically speaking, mass is a property of matter equal to its resistance to a change in speed or direction of travel.) The mass of an object is the same everywhere in the universe. Its weight, however, changes depending upon its location: a Bowling ball has greater weight on the surface of the Earth than it does on the moon.

Great confusion arises when people interchange units of weight with units of mass. Scientists, particularly physicists, are very careful about not using the terms interchangeably, but regular folks have no choice if they want to get along in the world with other people. For example, when you weigh a regulation bowling ball used by the pros, the scale will tell you it "weighs" 727 kilograms, even though the kilogram is, technically speaking, a unit of mass, not weight.

re discussion on the units of weight and massThis bears further development, because so much darn confusion arises from the colloquial use of the terms pound and kilogram. The discussion above alludes to the problem of interchanging units of mass with units of force, that is, weight.

[To be continued.]

Clarification to "A scale" aboveSome scales really DO measure mass directly: a balance scale measures mass, not weight! Consider:

Let's say you stand on a common bathroom scale near the surface of the Earth and the scale reads 100 pounds. If you then move to the surface of the Moon, however, the scale would read only 16.7 pounds. Bathroom scales are really spring devices and measure weight. The amount they display is dependent upon the force of gravity.

But what if you used a balance scale? You would stand on one tray of the balance scale, and weights are placed on the other tray until the scale balances. There would be 100 pounds of weights on the other tray. If you then move to the surface of the moon, you would NOT need to alter the weights on the other tray. No matter where the balance scale rests, it will always reveal the same result, in this case, 100 pounds. The balance scale doesn't measure weight; it measures mass!

Mass spThe closest thing to a "massometer" would be a mass spectrometer. It is used primarily to identify chemical compounds in an unknown substance and to determine isotopic element ratios in compounds. The exact amount of a substance in a compound can also be determined using mass spectrometry, but that is an involved process because mass spectrometry is not usually used to quantify exact amounts.
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Related Questions

What instrument do we use to find the mass of objects?

We use a balance or a scale to find the mass of objects. These instruments measure the force of gravity acting on the object and provide the mass in units such as kilograms or grams.


What instrument do you use to find mass of objects?

All you need is a scale. you should use a scale that measures in grams.


What instrument will you se to find the mass of objects?

Weighing balance is used to measure mass. Digital balance is also used. They give fine approximation about masses.


What instrument will you use to find the mass of objects?

All you need is a scale. you should use a scale that measures in grams.


What metric unit would you use to find an objects mass?

The kilogram.


What is the 17 letter word for an instrument used to find mass?

The 17-letter word for an instrument used to find mass is "microbalance." A microbalance is a highly sensitive device used to measure the mass of very small objects with high precision. It is commonly used in scientific research and analytical chemistry for accurate weight measurements.


What instrument would you use in the science laboratory to find the mass of the solid?

Triple-beam balance.


Instrument you would use in the laboratory to find the mass of the block?

You would use a balance or a scale to find the mass of the block in the laboratory. These instruments provide accurate measurements of mass by comparing the weight of the object with a set of calibrated weights.


What is the name of the scientific instrument used to find the mass of an object?

A Triple Beam Balance is used to find the mass of an object.


Does gravity affect an object without mass?

Well, the formula for the gravitational force between any two objects says that the force is proportional to the product of their masses, so we suppose that if one of the objects had no mass, the product would be zero, and the force would also have to be zero. Tell you what: You find us an object without mass, and we can check it out together.


Can you use a graduated cylinder to find which of two objects has a greater mass?

No, you would not use a graduated cylinder to compare the mass of two objects, that would be silly. Graduated cylinders are only useful to measure volume, not mass. Mass is measured with a scale. Chemists usually use a triple beam balance.


What is the instrument in science to find mass?

A triple beam balence