alleryStart learning →In practice, how are the masses of objects determined?
ABy comparison with the standard kilogram
BBy counting the atoms and molecules they contain
CBy measuring the volume they take up
DBy timing how fast they fall in a vacuum
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. By comparison with the standard kilogram
1. The quantity of matter in an object is set by the numbers of atoms and molecules it contains.
2. In practice it is very difficult to count and identify all of them.
3. So masses are determined operationally by comparison with the standard kilogram.
4. Volume is no guide, since equal volumes of different substances have different masses.
_Source: OpenStax College Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 4 "Dynamics: Force and Newton's Laws of Motion", section 4.2 Newton's First Law of Motion: Inertia_
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