Mass is primarily dependent on an object's inertia.
Essentially, the more inertia an object possesses, the greater its mass. Inertia is the resistance of an object to changes in its state of motion. A massive object is more difficult to accelerate or decelerate than a less massive object, demonstrating a higher inertia.
To further clarify:
- Inertia: This is the fundamental property that determines mass. It reflects an object's tendency to resist changes in its velocity.
- Relationship: A direct relationship exists between mass and inertia. Higher inertia implies higher mass and vice-versa.
- Example: It's much easier to push a shopping cart with fewer items (less mass, less inertia) than one that's fully loaded (more mass, more inertia).
Therefore, mass quantifies an object's resistance to acceleration, and this resistance, or inertia, is the core property defining mass.
