Unit of Mass or Weight

We know the main standard unit of mass or weight is kilogram which we write in short as ‘kg’. 1000th part of this kilogram is gram which is written in short as ‘g’.

Thus 1000 gram = 1 kilogram and 1 kilogram = 1000 gram

i.e. 1000 g = 1 kg and 1 kg = 1000 g.

This gram (g) is a very small unit of mass.

We use other units of mass or weight to conveniently measure the mass or weight of materials.

1/2 of 1 kg   = 500 grams

1/4 of 1 kg   = 250 grams

1/5 of 1 kg   = 200 grams

1/10 of 1 kg = 100 grams

1/20 of 1 kg =   50 grams

or           2 x 500 grams   = 1 kg

or           4 x 250 grams   = 1 kg

or           5 x 200 grams   = 1 kg

or           10 x 100 grams = 1 kg

or           20 x 50 grams = 1 kg

$Unit of Mass or Weight$

So, 1 kg, 500 g, 250 g, 200 g, 100 g, 50 g, etc. are the different units for measuring the mass or weight.

There are also the unit weights for measuring 5 kg, 10 kg, 20 kg, 50 kg and 100 kg mass.

$Unit Weights for Measuring$

100kg wt. is called one quintal wt.

10 quintal wt. is known as one metric ton.

Thus 1 Quintal = 100 kg and 100 kg = 1 quintal.

1 metric ton = 10 quintal = 10 x 100 kg = 1000 kg

We can say there are three main units of mass. To weigh heavy things, we use the unit metric ton (1000 kg) or quintal (100 kg) and to weigh the things of our general use we adopt kilogram and gram. Thus very heavy objects are weighed in quintal and metric ton, heavy objects are weighed in kilogram and light objects are weighed in gram. We use the weights of 500g, 250g, 200g, 100g, 50g, 25g, etc.

The things are weighed with the help of a balance. Generally this balance is called a common balance. We place the weight in one pan and the objects or commodities in the other pan.