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Comparing objects

When comparing the mass of objects, we use these words:

• heavier and heaviest
• lighter and lightest

Top tip

Remember an object can be heavier than something else, even if it looks smaller.

The mass of two objects might be equal to each other, too.

Using symbols

We can use the symbols for more than and less than to compare the mass of objects.

The symbol > means 'more than'.

The symbol < means 'less than'.

The symbol = means 'equal to' or 'the same'.

Comparing objects

Use the words heavier and lighter to compare the objects.

Here are some examples:

The pencil is lighter than the shoe.

This is the same as writing:

The pencil < the shoe.

The ball is heavier than the flower.

This is the same as writing:

The ball is > the flower.

The apple is equal to the ball.

This is the same as writing:

The apple is = to the ball.

Activity 1

Find pairs of objects around you to compare and work out which is the lighter of the two and which is the heavier.

Hold one object in each hand and stretch your arms out to the side, so you are standing like a balance scale. Now compare the weights of the objects and decide which is heavier.

Can you find two objects that are equal to each other in weight?

Activity 2