Comparing Masses Without the Use of Gravity A qualitative discussion of the distinction between weight and mass, followed by a description of astronaut mass measurements in a zero-g environment, conducted in 1973. The student will Learn to distinguish between weight and mass. Both are properties of matter, and all observations suggest that they are proportional to each other.
Weight is the force by which an object is attracted by gravity.
Mass is the extent to which it resists acceleration. This makes it possible to compare masses without the use of gravity. Learn about space station Skylab and the measurement of astronaut mass conducted aboard it. It is hoped that the distinction is made clear by approaching it in more than one way, and illustrating it by as many examples as possible. Some teachers still maintain that a two-pan balance measures weight , while a spring balance measures mass .