Distinction between Mass and Weight of an Object

Basic Definitions

Mass is a fundamental property of an object representing the amount of matter it contains. Measured in kilogrammes (kg), mass is constant and does not change with the location of the object, whether it’s on Earth, the Moon, or in space.
Weight is a force acting on a body due to gravity. It depends on both the mass of the object and the gravitational field strength of the planet or moon it is on. Weight is measured in Newtons (N) and changes when the gravitational field changes.

While mass is a scalar quantity only having magnitude, weight is a vector quantity having both magnitude and direction (directed towards the centre of gravity).
The weight of an object can be found by multiplying its mass and the gravitational field strength (g), W=mg, showcasing how both properties are related.
As weight is a force, it can cause objects to accelerate according to Newton’s Second Law of Motion. Mass, being a measure of matter, does not cause acceleration.

In places where the gravitational field strength is less than Earth’s (like on the moon), an object will weigh less than it does on Earth, but its mass remains unchanged.
Mass is measured using a balance, comparing an object to a set of standard masses. Weight can be measured using a spring scale, which measures the force exerted by the object due to gravity.