Mass and weight
1.3What the syllabus asks of you
- State that mass is a measure of the quantity of matter in an object at rest relative to the observer
- State that the mass of an object resists change from its state of rest or motion (inertia)
- Know that weights, and therefore masses, may be compared using a beam balance or equal-arm balance
- Describe how to determine mass using an electronic balance
- Describe how to measure weight using a force meter
- Define gravitational field strength as force per unit mass; recall and use the equation gravitational field strength = weight / mass g = W / m and know that this is equivalent to the acceleration of free fall
- State that a gravitational field is a region in which a mass experiences a force due to gravitational attraction
Read the notes first
Chapter 1: Mass and weight
Drill this topic
Every question on Mass and weight, untimed, marked as you go.
Make a worksheet
Choose the years and how many questions, then print it with the answers on separate pages.
43 questions
1May / June 2026 · Paper 11 · Q5Show mark scheme →
Ainertia
Bmoment
Cmomentum
Dresultant force
Mark scheme
2May / June 2026 · Paper 11 · Q6Show mark scheme →
AThe gravitational field strength on planet P is 7.8 N/kg.
BThe mass of the object increases.
CThe weight of the object decreases.
DThe weight of the object on Earth is 42 N.
Mark scheme
3May / June 2026 · Paper 12 · Q3Show mark scheme →
AMass is density divided by volume.
BMass is the volume of space occupied by a body.
CMass is weight multiplied by the gravitational field strength.
DMass resists a change in motion.
Mark scheme
4May / June 2026 · Paper 12 · Q4Show mark scheme →
Akg
Bkg / m
CN
DN m
Mark scheme
5Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Q4Show mark scheme →
A0.98 N
B1.6 N
C9.8 N
D16 N
Mark scheme
6Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Q6Show mark scheme →
Aforce experienced by an object / electronic balance
Bforce experienced by an object / force meter
Cquantity of matter in an object / electronic balance
Dquantity of matter in an object / force meter
Mark scheme
7May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q10Also set in May / June 2019 Paper 12Show mark scheme →
Agreater amount of matter: P; greater resistance to change of motion: P
Bgreater amount of matter: P; greater resistance to change of motion: Q
Cgreater amount of matter: Q; greater resistance to change of motion: P
Dgreater amount of matter: Q; greater resistance to change of motion: Q
Mark scheme
8Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 11 · Q8Show mark scheme →
A810 kg
B820 kg
C8000 kg
D78 000 kg
Mark scheme
9Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 12 · Q5Show mark scheme →
Amass
Bradius
Cdistance between its atoms
Dforces between its atoms
Mark scheme
10Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 12 · Q6Show mark scheme →
ABoth the mass and the weight are unaffected.
BThe mass decreases and the weight decreases.
CThe mass increases and the weight is unaffected.
DThe mass is unaffected and the weight decreases.
Mark scheme
11May / June 2024 · Paper 12 · Q5Show mark scheme →
Aits mass
Bits shape
Cits surface area
Dits volume
Mark scheme
12May / June 2024 · Paper 12 · Q6Show mark scheme →
Azero
B35 N
C210 N
D340 N
Mark scheme
13May / June 2023 · Paper 11 · Q5Show mark scheme →
A1.9 kg
B2.6 kg
C4.1 kg
D6.8 kg
Mark scheme
14May / June 2023 · Paper 12 · Q5Show mark scheme →
AW and X
BW and Z
CX and Y
DY and Z
Mark scheme
15May / June 2023 · Paper 12 · Q6Show mark scheme →
Amass / kg: 100, weight / N: 370
Bmass / kg: 100, weight / N: 980
Cmass / kg: 370, weight / N: 98
Dmass / kg: 370, weight / N: 3700
Mark scheme
16Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 11 · Q9Show mark scheme →
Amass, weight, gravitational field strength
Bweight, mass, gravitational field strength
Cmass, gravitational field strength, weight
Dweight, gravitational field strength, mass
Mark scheme
17Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 12 · Q9Show mark scheme →
Astatement 1 only
Bstatement 2 only
Cstatement 1 and statement 2
Dneither statement 1 nor statement 2
Mark scheme
18Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 12 · Q10Also set in Oct / Nov 2022 Paper 11, Oct / Nov 2018 Paper 12Show mark scheme →
AIt is not possible to compare the gravitational field strengths on planets X and Y.
BThe gravitational field strength on planet X is equal to the gravitational field strength on planet Y.
CThe gravitational field strength on planet X is one third of the gravitational field strength on planet Y.
DThe gravitational field strength on planet X is three times the gravitational field strength on planet Y.
Mark scheme
19May / June 2022 · Paper 11 · Q4Show mark scheme →
Am = W × g
Bm = \frac{W}{g}
Cm = \frac{g}{W}
Dm = W – g
Mark scheme
20Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 12 · Q6Show mark scheme →
Athe weight of the object
Bthe mass of the object
Cthe weight/mass of the object
Dthe mass/weight of the object
Mark scheme
21May / June 2021 · Paper 11 · Q6Show mark scheme →
Amass/kg: 2, weight/N: 0.20
Bmass/kg: 2, weight/N: 10
Cmass/kg: 5, weight/N: 5.0
Dmass/kg: 5, weight/N: 50
Mark scheme
22May / June 2021 · Paper 12 · Q6Show mark scheme →
ABoth the mass and the weight are unaffected.
BThe mass decreases and the weight decreases.
CThe mass increases and the weight is unaffected.
DThe mass is unaffected and the weight decreases.
Mark scheme
23Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 11 · Q8Show mark scheme →
AMass is a scientific term that means the same as weight.
BThe mass of an object on Earth is 10 times its weight.
CWeight is a scalar quantity, mass is a vector quantity.
DWeight is the force of gravity pulling on a mass.
Mark scheme
24Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 12 · Q7Also set in Oct / Nov 2020 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Athe mass of the block in kg
Bthe mass of the block in N
Cthe moment caused by the block in N
Dthe weight of the block in kg
Mark scheme
25Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 12 · Q8Show mark scheme →
A2
B10
C25
D50
Mark scheme
26May / June 2020 · Paper 11 · Q9Show mark scheme →
Amass 5 kg, weight 125 N
Bmass 15 kg, weight 150 N
Cmass 20 kg, weight 220 N
Dmass 25 kg, weight 225 N
Mark scheme
27May / June 2020 · Paper 12 · Q9Show mark scheme →
A4.0 / 1.0
B4.0 / 16
C400 / 100
D400 / 1600
Mark scheme
28Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 12 · Q21Show mark scheme →
Amass of metal disc: increases; mass of water in beaker: decreases
Bmass of metal disc: increases; mass of water in beaker: no change
Cmass of metal disc: no change; mass of water in beaker: decreases
Dmass of metal disc: no change; mass of water in beaker: increases
Mark scheme
29May / June 2019 · Paper 12 · Q9Also set in May / June 2019 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Amass / kg: 3.0; gravitational field strength N/kg: 10.4
Bmass / kg: 3.5; gravitational field strength N/kg: 9.5
Cmass / kg: 4.0; gravitational field strength N/kg: 10.2
Dmass / kg: 4.5; gravitational field strength N/kg: 9.0
Mark scheme
30Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 11 · Q1Show mark scheme →
A7.5 kg
B75 kg
C750 kg
D7500 kg
Mark scheme
31Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 11 · Q6Show mark scheme →
AIts density decreases.
BIts mass decreases.
CIts weight increases.
DIts volume increases.
Mark scheme
32Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 12 · Q5Show mark scheme →
Abalance
Bmanometer
Cmeasuring cylinder
Dmicrometer
Mark scheme
33May / June 2018 · Paper 11 · Q6Show mark scheme →
Abalance
Bmanometer
Cmeasuring cylinder
Dnewton meter
Mark scheme
34May / June 2018 · Paper 12 · Q8Show mark scheme →
Aunit on electronic balance: g; unit of weight: g
Bunit on electronic balance: g; unit of weight: N
Cunit on electronic balance: N; unit of weight: g
Dunit on electronic balance: N; unit of weight: N
Mark scheme
35May / June 2018 · Paper 12 · Q9Also set in May / June 2018 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
A0 N / kg
B1.6 N / kg
C10 N / kg
D16 N / kg
Mark scheme
36Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q5Also set in Oct / Nov 2017 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Athe masses of the two objects
Bthe moments about the pivot of the two objects
Cthe volumes of the two objects
Dthe weights of the two objects
Mark scheme
37May / June 2017 · Paper 11 · Q10Show mark scheme →
Amass: different, weight: different
Bmass: different, weight: the same
Cmass: the same, weight: different
Dmass: the same, weight: the same
Mark scheme
38May / June 2017 · Paper 12 · Q10Show mark scheme →
A200 N
B760 N
C7600 N
D76 000 N
Mark scheme
39Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 11 · Q5Show mark scheme →
AA mass experiences a weight due to a gravitational field.
BMass and weight are different types of force.
CMass and weight have the same unit.
DWhen an object expands, its mass changes but its weight stays the same.
Mark scheme
40Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 12 · Q3Show mark scheme →
AThe density of P is equal to the density of Q.
BThe force on P is equal to the force on Q.
CThe force on Q is double the force on P.
DThe gravitational field strength for Q is double that for P.
Mark scheme
41Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 12 · Q7Show mark scheme →
Athe mass of the block in kg
Bthe mass of the block in N
Cthe moment caused by the block in N m
Dthe weight of the block in kg
Mark scheme
42May / June 2016 · Paper 12 · Q4Show mark scheme →
Adensity
Bmass
Cvolume
Dweight
Mark scheme
43May / June 2016 · Paper 12 · Q5Also set in May / June 2016 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Anewton meter: mass; beam balance: mass
Bnewton meter: mass; beam balance: weight
Cnewton meter: weight; beam balance: mass
Dnewton meter: weight; beam balance: weight
Mark scheme