What is the relationship between mass and weight?

The relationship between mass and weight is rooted in the definitions of each concept. Mass refers to the amount of matter in an object and remains constant regardless of the object's location; it is independent of gravitational forces. This means that whether an object is on Earth, on the Moon, or in space, its mass does not change.

Weight, on the other hand, is the force exerted on an object due to gravity. It can be calculated using the formula: weight = mass × gravitational acceleration (W = mg). This shows that weight is directly dependent on gravity; for example, an object weighs less on the Moon than on Earth because the gravitational pull is weaker there.

Thus, the correct statement highlights that mass is a scalar quantity unaffected by gravity, while weight varies depending on the gravitational field strength acting on that mass.