use mass

Meanings

1. 1phrasetransitivetechnicalphysics

   to apply the amount of matter in an object in a calculation or experiment.

   Grammar: Takes an object: use mass to find density. Mass is uncountable in this scientific sense.

   Patterns

   • use mass to calculate something
   • use the mass of something

   In this experiment, you use mass and volume to find the density of the metal.

   Scientists use mass, not weight, when they measure matter in space.

2. 2phrasetransitive

   to make use of a large number of people or things together.

   Grammar: Takes an object: use mass support. This is a more general, non-technical use.

   Patterns

   • use mass support
   • use mass production

   The campaign used mass support to change the law.

   Factories use mass production to make goods cheaply.

Common combinations

use mass and volume

Use mass and volume to calculate density.

use the mass of an object

You can use the mass of an object to find its weight on Earth.

use mass production

The company began to use mass production in the 1920s.

Synonyms and how they differ

apply mass

This is not a common phrase; use mass is the natural way to talk about using mass in a calculation.

Word family

massive adjective

very large or heavy

mass noun

the amount of matter in something, or a large group

Commonly confused: use mass or weight?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “use mass”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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