In an engaging Physics lesson, Secondary 1 students collaborated in groups to investigate the concepts of mass and weight using a variety of everyday objects. They used Ohaus balances and force meters to measure items such as water, coins, books and personal belongings.
The activity began with students determining the mass of each object using an electronic balance. They carefully recorded their readings in grams and noted that objects of different shapes and sizes could have distinct masses, emphasizing the difference between volume and mass.
Next, they measured the weight of the same objects using a force meter. Through this, students discovered that weight is the gravitational force acting on an object, measured in newtons (N) and that it depends on the object’s mass. This hands-on experiment helped students strengthen their practical measurement skills and deepen their understanding of the distinction between mass and weight. They learned that while mass remains constant everywhere, weight varies with the strength of gravity.
Finally, the groups compared their results, discussed variations, and analysed their findings, further enhancing their grasp of key physics principles and improving their teamwork and scientific inquiry skills.***
