Inertial mass resists acceleration, while gravitational mass determines gravitational attraction. Both masses are experimentally found to be equivalent.
Class 11 Physics
Gravitation
CBSE EXAM 2024-25
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Comparison between Inertial and Gravitational Masses:
Similarities:
1. Both represent the quantity of matter in a body.
2. Both are equivalent in magnitude and have the same units of measurement.
3. Both are independent of the shape or state of matter.
4. Both are unaffected by the presence of other bodies.
5. Both are scalar quantities.
**Differences:**
1. Inertial mass measures a body’s resistance to acceleration, while gravitational mass measures the force of attraction between the body and Earth.
2. Inertial mass is determined using Newton’s second law of motion, whereas gravitational mass is determined using Newton’s law of gravitation.
3. Inertial mass can only be measured under dynamic conditions when the body is in motion, making it less practical, whereas gravitational mass can be easily measured using a common balance.