Samantha D.

asked • 01/24/13

A.What is the mass of a pencil or pen?


A. What is the mass of a pencil or pen?

Anniyar A.

While using a triple beam balance (In grams) the mass of a pencil is approximately 4.4 grams, in the case of my experiment. (It depends which pencil you used, I used a Ticonderoga pencil)
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10/23/18

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Michael B. answered • 01/25/13

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The mass will depend on the amount of material that comprises the pencil or the pen. Mass is an intrinsic property that you can calculate by taking a measurement of the weight using the formula: w = mg. Where (g) is the acceleration on the mass due to gravity (provided it is "close" to the Earth's surface).

A couple of examples:

If a pen weighs 1 lb (a seriously heavy pen), then its mass would be

m = 1 lb/32 (ft/s2) = 0.03125 slugs   (slug is the unit of mass in the British system)

Likewise if a pen weighs 1 N, then its mass would be

m = 1N/9.81 (m/s2) = 0.1019 kilograms

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Michael B.

It should be noted however, that people often misuse mass and weight interchangeably even though they are two discrete quantities. If you put a pen on a scale in the lab (due to the design of the scales used) you will get a readout that indicates a mass quantity in grams, but if you step on your own bathroom scale you will see your weight in pounds.

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01/25/13

Glory B.

  1. That gave no good information what so ever what about the pencil I need to know about the pencil not the pen this website is stupid why did I click oh that's right it said answers to the mass of a pen and pencil you guys need to give more information and do not say that you put pencil cause you didn't 
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10/08/15

Halie M.

I agree you guys do need to give more specific answers.
 
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09/26/16

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