# A scientist uses a balance to compare the masses of two metal cylinders on Earth. The scientist then travels to a space station orbiting a distant planet, where the gravitational field strength is much greater than on Earth, and repeats the comparison using the same balance. Explain why the balance still gives the same result for both cylinders at the space station as it did on Earth.

> Cambridge International IGCSE Physics (0625) — 1.3 Mass and weight · Explain · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Mass is a measure of how much matter is in an object / mass does not change with location
2. Weight is the gravitational force on a mass / weight depends on gravitational field strength
3. Both cylinders experience the same (greater) gravitational field strength, so both weights increase by the same factor / the ratio of their weights remains the same
4. A balance compares weights (or masses) of two objects, and since both weights change by the same factor, the balance still reads the same / the comparison is unaffected

## Key terms

- [mass](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/mass)
- [gravitational field strength](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/gravitational-field-strength)
- [balance](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/balance)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Cambridge International IGCSE Physics (0625)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-scientist-uses-a-balance-to-21ec2d3c) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.