massdetection

Massdetection, sometimes written as mass detection, is the process of determining the amount of matter in an object or system by measurement or inference. It covers direct weighing and indirect estimation across many scales and disciplines.

Macroscopic mass can be measured directly with balances and scales, where gravity exerts a force on a known reference. Load cells convert force into electrical signals. Buoyancy-based methods use Archimedes’ principle to determine mass from volume and displaced fluid; hydrostatic weighing and gas pycnometry are examples.

At micro- and nano-scales, mass detection relies on changes in resonance or optical signals: quartz crystal microbalance and microcantilever resonators detect added mass via shifts in frequency or amplitude; MEMS and nanoelectromechanical systems provide highly sensitive gravimetric measurements; optical resonators and interferometry detect refractive index or phase changes associated with mass loading.

In astronomy and cosmology, mass is inferred from dynamics and gravity. Observations of orbital motions, galaxy rotation curves, gravitational lensing, and microlensing yield estimates of visible and dark mass distributions.

In material science and biology, mass is inferred from volume and density measurements, spectroscopy, and imaging when direct weighing is impractical. Calibration, environmental control, and corrections for buoyancy and temperature are common considerations.

Standards and uncertainty: mass measurements are associated with uncertainties and require calibration against reference masses; traceability to national standards ensures comparability across laboratories.

Applications include manufacturing quality control, pharmaceuticals, environmental monitoring, and research in physics and astronomy.