When reviewing reports, papers and thesis drafts, I always note the interchangeable use of the terms mass and weight. This troubles me as I think one term should be used consistently. However, I am never entirely sure which should be used. My feeling is mass, as this is independent of gravity, but I need reassurance, please help!
Gustavo A Pino
Dear Paul,
It's definitely mass. However, some people use weight as synonymous of mass, as in the case of the human mass/weight.
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Jerry P. Czarnecki
Americans use "weight", Europeans and scientific journals use "mass", following the SI convention. Mass is accurate, weight is colloquial.
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