Question #461c5

1 Answer
Oct 16, 2015

Matter has a precise definition in physics and is a property that is same no matter where you are in the universe. Substance is a less rigorously defined synonym.

Explanation:

Mass is:

  • A measure of how much matter an object has.
  • The thing that determines how much gravitational attraction something experiences (gravitational mass)
  • The property of an object that resists acceleration when you apply a force to that object (inertial mass)

see: the Wikipedia Page on Mass

Whereas substance means something like:

  • Matter that has constant properties
  • Having a tangible, solid presence