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Orders of magnitude (mass)

Orders of magnitude (mass) is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Orders of magnitude (mass) rather than just read about it. In short: To help compare different orders of magnitude, the following lists describe various mass levels between 10−67 kilograms (kg) and 1052 kg. The least massive thing listed here is a graviton, and the most massive thing is the observable universe.

Orders of magnitude (mass) — main illustration
Orders of magnitude (mass) — illustration

Key takeaways

  • Orders of magnitude (mass) belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Orders of magnitude (mass) to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Orders of magnitude (mass) from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

To help compare different orders of magnitude, the following lists describe various mass levels between 10−67 kilograms (kg) and 1052 kg. The least massive thing listed here is a graviton, and the most massive thing is the observable universe. Typically, an object having greater mass will also have greater weight (see mass versus weight), especially if the objects are subject to the same gravitational field strength.

Units of mass

The table above is based on the kilogram, the base unit of mass in the International System of Units (SI). The kilogram is the only standard unit to include an SI prefix (kilo-) as part of its name. The gram (10−3 kg) is an SI derived unit of mass. However, the names of all SI mass units are based on gram, rather than on kilogram; thus 103 kg is a megagram (106 g), not a *kilokilogram. The tonne (t) is an SI-compatible unit of mass equal to a megagram (Mg), or 103 kg. The unit is in common use for masses above about 103 kg and is often used with SI prefixes. For example, a gigagram (Gg) or 109 g is 103 tonnes, commonly called a kilotonne.

Other units Other units of mass are also in use. Historical units include the stone, the pound, the carat, and the grain. For subatomic particles, physicists use the mass-equivalent of an electronvolt (eV). At the atomic level, chemists use the mass of one-twelfth of a carbon-12 atom (the dalton). Astronomers use the mass of the sun (M☉).

The least massive things: below 10−24 kg Unlike other physical quantities, mass–energy does not have an a priori expected minimal quantity, or an observed basic quantum as in the case of electric charge. Planck's law allows for the existence of photons with arbitrarily low energies. Consequently, there can only ever be an experimental upper bound on the mass of a supposedly massless particle; in the case of the photon, this confirmed upper bound is of the order of 3×10−27 eV/c2 = 10−62 kg.

10−24 to 10−18 kg

10−18 to 10−12 kg

10−12 to 10−6 kg

10−6 to 1 kg

1 kg to 105 kg

106 to 1011 kg

1012 to 1017 kg

1018 to 1023 kg

1024 to 1029 kg

1030 to 1035 kg

1036 to 1041 kg

The most massive things: 1042 kg and greater

See also Lists of astronomical objects

Notes

External links Mass units conversion calculator Mass units conversion calculator JavaScript

Illustrations

Orders of magnitude (mass): Iron weights up to 50 kilograms depicted in Dictionnaire encyclopédique de l'épicerie et des industries annexes.
Iron weights up to 50 kilograms depicted in Dictionnaire encyclopédique de l'épicerie et des industries annexes.
Orders of magnitude (mass): Jupiter is the most massive planet in the Solar System.
Jupiter is the most massive planet in the Solar System.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Orders of magnitude (mass)

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Orders of magnitude (mass) claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Orders of magnitude (mass) before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Orders of magnitude (mass) ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Orders of magnitude (mass)

In research
Orders of magnitude (mass) appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Orders of magnitude (mass) in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Orders of magnitude (mass) is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Mass, Orders of magnitude, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Orders of magnitude (mass) outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
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How to study Orders of magnitude (mass) in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Orders of magnitude (mass) means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Orders of magnitude (mass) out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Orders of magnitude (mass) in simple terms?

To help compare different orders of magnitude, the following lists describe various mass levels between 10−67 kilograms (kg) and 1052 kg. The least massive thing listed here is a graviton, and the most massive thing is the observable universe.

Why does Orders of magnitude (mass) matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Orders of magnitude (mass)?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Orders of magnitude (mass).

Tags

  • Mass
  • Orders of magnitude

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