Which quantity describes the amount of matter in an object?

• A. Friction
• B. Velocity
• C. Mass
• D. Weight

Answer: (C)

The amount of matter in an object is described by mass. Mass is an intrinsic property that doesn’t change with location or gravity, and it’s what you compare against standard masses on a balance to measure. It stays the same on Earth, the Moon, or anywhere in between. Weight, in contrast, is the gravitational force acting on that mass and can change with gravity. Friction is the resistive force between surfaces, and velocity refers to how fast and in what direction something moves. So mass best describes the amount of matter.