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Which statement correctly distinguishes mass from weight?
AMass changes from planet to planet; weight is the same everywhere
BMass is a force measured in newton; weight is the amount of matter in kilogram
CBoth mass and weight are vectors directed towards the Earth's centre
DMass is a scalar and is the same everywhere; weight is a force that varies from place to place
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. Mass is a scalar and is the same everywhere; weight is a force that varies from place to place
1. Mass is the amount of matter, a scalar with SI unit kg; its value is the same everywhere.
2. Weight is the gravitational force on the object, $W = mg$, a vector with SI unit newton.
3. Since $g$ varies from place to place, weight changes with location while mass stays constant.
4. So mass scalar/constant and weight vector/variable is correct; the others swap these properties.
_Source: Balbharati (Maharashtra Board) Class 10 Science & Technology, Ch 1 "Gravitation", p.18_
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