Mass is a measure of the quantity of matter present in a substance or object, while quantity of matter is a general term for the amount of "stuff" that makes up an object. Mass is the quantifiable measurement of that "stuff."
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
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Quantity of Matter: This is a qualitative concept representing how much "stuff" is in an object. This "stuff" is what we know as matter. Matter is anything that takes up space (has volume) and has mass. Examples of matter include atoms, molecules, compounds, etc.
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Mass: This is a quantitative property of matter that measures its resistance to acceleration (inertia). It is a fundamental property that determines how much an object resists changes in its motion. Mass is commonly measured in kilograms (kg) or grams (g). Mass is conserved, meaning it remains constant unless matter is added or removed.
Think of it this way:
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Imagine a pile of sand. The sand itself is the matter. The quantity of sand describes how much sand there is (a lot, a little).
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The mass of the sand is a specific number, like 5 kg, representing how much that quantity of sand weighs on a scale, and how much force it would take to move it.
In essence, "quantity of matter" is a descriptive concept, while "mass" is the measurement of that quantity. Mass quantifies the quantity of matter.
