How is mass defined in scientific terms?

In scientific terms, mass is defined as the amount of matter in an object. This definition emphasizes that mass is a measure of the quantity of matter contained within an object, regardless of its location or the gravitational pull acting on it. Mass is an intrinsic property, meaning it does not change based on external factors such as the object's environment or the presence of other forces acting upon it.

This distinction is important because the concept of weight, which is the force exerted by gravity on an object, varies with different gravitational fields and does not reflect the actual amount of matter present. Volume and density, while related to mass, describe other properties of an object. Volume measures the space an object occupies, and density relates mass to volume. Understanding mass as a measure of matter helps in various scientific calculations and applications, including in fields such as physics and chemistry.