Mass and Weight

Mass (m): The amount of matter in an object. In the International Standard of Units (SI), the standard unit of measuring the mass is the “Kilogram (kg)”. It is the mass of a block made of Platinum-Iridium alloy (90% Platinum & 10% Iridium), measured at melting point of ice, located at International Bureau of Weights and Measures, Paris.

Weight (W): The force with which an object is attracted towards the centre of the earth. According to Sir Issac Newton, force is the product of mass and acceleration. Therefore, weight of an object is the product of its mass (m) and acceleration due to gravity (g = 9.81 m/sec²) i.e., W = mg. In the International Standard of Units (SI), the standard unit of measuring the weight is the “Newton (N)”.

A Newton (N) is the force required to move an object of mass 1 kilogram at the rate of 1 m/sec² acceleration, N = 1 kg-m/sec².

An object of mass 10 kg, weighs 98 N on earth and 16 N on moon (gravity on moon is approximately one-sixth the gravity on earth). Often we see the usage of kg for unit of weight, but for scientific calculations, the unit of weight is strictly N.

Following are the different units of measuring the mass and weight.

Unit	Equivalent mass		Unit	Equivalent weight
Grain	0.000 065 kg		Dyne (g-cm/sec2)	0.000 01 N
Carat	0.000 2 kg		kgf (kilogram-force)	9.81 N
Gram	0.001 kg		kN (kilo-Newton)	1 000 N
Dram	0.002 kg
Ounce	0.028 kg
Pound	0.454 kg
Ton	907 kg
Metric Ton	1 000 kg

Measuring the Volume

Volume: The quantity a 3D object can hold. In the International Standard of Units (SI), the standard unit of measuring volume is the “Cubic Meter”. It is the volume of a cube with sides of one meter length. Volume of any solid substance can be expressed in terms of this cubic meter. Volume of fluids is expressed in “Liters”. 1 Cubic Meter = 1 000 Liters or 1 Kilo Liter. There are different formulae for calculating the volume of different objects.

 

Following are the different units for measuring the volume and their equivalent values in cubic meters.

Unit of Measurement	Equivalent Value
Solids
Cubic Inch	0.000 016 Cubic Meters
Cubic Feet	0.028 317 Cubic Meters
Bushel	0.034 407 Cubic Meters
Fluids
Teaspoon / Dram	0.004 Liters
Table Spoon	0.012 Liters
Ounce	0.028 Liters
Teacup	0.192 Liters
Gill	0.118 Liters
Pint	0.568 Liters
Quart	0.946 Liters
Gallon	3.785 Liters
Barrel	119 Liters

Measuring the Area

Area: The extent of a 2D shape or the surface of a 3D object. In the International Standard of Units (SI), the standard unit of measuring area is the “Square Meter”. It is the area of a square with sides of one meter length. Area of any shape can be expressed in terms of this square meter. There are different formulae for calculating the area of different shapes.

 

Following are the different units for measuring the area and their equivalent values in square meters.

Square Feet = 0.093 Square Meters

Square Yard = 0.836 Square Meters

Are = 100 Square Meters

Acre = 4 046.856 Square Meters

Hectare = 10 000 Square Meters

Square Mile = 2 589 988 Square Meters

Section = 15 539 929 Square Meters

Township = 93 239 572 Square Meters