Bulk vs. Mass — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 28, 2024
Bulk refers to the volume or size of an object, emphasizing its physical dimensions or the space it occupies, while mass indicates the amount of matter in an object, relevant to its weight and inertia.
Difference Between Bulk and Mass
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Bulk is associated with the physical presence or volume of an object, highlighting how much space it occupies. This can apply to objects of any size, from a bulky piece of furniture to a large quantity of a substance. Mass, on the other hand, is a fundamental property of matter that does not change regardless of the object's location. It measures the quantity of matter within the object, crucial for understanding its gravitational and inertial properties.
When considering packaging or storage, bulk becomes a critical factor because it determines the spatial requirements for handling or transporting materials. Mass is essential in these contexts for calculating shipping costs and energy requirements for movement, as it is directly related to weight.
In everyday language, "bulk" often refers to large quantities or the general largeness of items, used in contexts ranging from retail (buying in bulk) to descriptions of physical characteristics. Mass is a more technical term, used in scientific, engineering, and mathematical contexts to discuss an object's resistance to acceleration and its gravitational interactions.
Bulk can also imply a lack of refinement or density, suggesting something is large or extensive without necessarily being heavy or compact. Mass, whereas, is a precise measurement that influences how objects interact with forces and with each other, indicating the substance rather than the form.
In nutrition and fitness, "bulk" might refer to the process of gaining body mass, particularly muscle and fat, but it loosely incorporates both the increase in body size and mass. In physics and engineering, mass is strictly quantified, influencing calculations such as energy, momentum, and balance.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
The volume or space an object occupies.
The quantity of matter in an object.
Emphasis
Physical dimensions and spatial occupation.
Amount of matter and its gravitational and inertial properties.
Context
Often used in storage, shipping, and descriptive scenarios.
Primarily used in scientific, technical, and calculation contexts.
Implication
Can suggest largeness or quantity without regard to weight.
Indicates weight and substance, integral to physical laws.
Application
Critical in logistics, packaging, and visual assessment.
Essential in physics, engineering, and precise measurements.
Compare with Definitions
Bulk
Bulk refers to the size or volume of objects or materials.
The bulk of the package made it difficult to carry.
Mass
Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object.
The mass of the Earth influences its gravitational pull.
Bulk
It also refers to the body's size, especially when enlarged.
He increased his bulk with a rigorous workout regimen.
Mass
In physics, mass affects an object's resistance to acceleration.
A car's mass determines how much force is needed to speed up.
Bulk
In commerce, buying in bulk means purchasing large quantities.
She bought toilet paper in bulk to save money.
Mass
Mass is constant and does not change with location.
An astronaut's mass is the same on Earth and the Moon.
Bulk
Bulk can describe something that is large in size or amount.
The bulk of evidence supported his theory.
Mass
It plays a key role in calculating weight and gravitational force.
Weight is the result of mass interacting with gravitational force.
Bulk
Bulk implies a significant presence or quantity of something.
The bulk of the sculpture dominated the room.
Mass
Mass is crucial in formulas for energy and momentum.
E=mc^2 relates mass to energy in physics.
Bulk
Size, mass, or volume, especially when very large.
Mass
Mass is both a property of a physical body and a measure of its resistance to acceleration (rate of change of velocity with respect to time) when a net force is applied. An object's mass also determines the strength of its gravitational attraction to other bodies.
Bulk
A distinct mass or portion of matter, especially a large one
The dark bulk of buildings against the sky.
Mass
The celebration of the Christian Eucharist, especially in the Roman Catholic Church
We went to Mass
Bulk
The body of a human, especially when large or muscular.
Mass
Involving or affecting large numbers of people or things
A mass exodus of refugees
The film has mass appeal
Bulk
The major portion or greater part
"The great bulk of necessary work can never be anything but painful" (Bertrand Russell).
Mass
Assemble or cause to assemble into a single body or mass
Both countries began massing troops in the region
Clouds massed heavily on the horizon
Bulk
See fiber.
Mass
Public celebration of the Eucharist in the Roman Catholic Church and some Protestant churches.
Bulk
Thickness of paper or cardboard in relation to weight.
Mass
The sacrament of the Eucharist.
Bulk
A ship's cargo.
Mass
A musical setting of certain parts of the Mass, especially the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei.
Bulk
To be or appear to be massive in terms of size, volume, or importance; loom
Safety considerations bulked large during development of the new spacecraft.
Mass
A unified body of matter with no specific shape
A mass of clay.
Bulk
To grow or increase in size or importance.
Mass
A grouping of individual parts or elements that compose a unified body of unspecified size or quantity
"Take mankind in mass, and for the most part, they seem a mob of unnecessary duplicates" (Herman Melville).
Bulk
To cohere or form a mass
Certain paper bulks well.
Mass
A large but nonspecific amount or number
A mass of bruises.
Bulk
To cause to swell or expand.
Mass
A lump or aggregate of coherent material
A cancerous mass.
Bulk
To cause to cohere or form a mass.
Mass
The principal part; the majority
The mass of the continent.
Bulk
Being large in mass, quantity, or volume
A bulk buy.
A bulk mailing.
Mass
The physical volume or bulk of a solid body.
Bulk
Size, specifically, volume.
Mass
Abbr. m(Physics) A property of matter equal to the measure of the amount of matter contained in or constituting a physical body that partly determines the body's resistance to changes in the speed or direction of its motion. The mass of an object is not dependent on gravity and therefore is different from but proportional to its weight.
Bulk
Any huge body or structure.
Mass
An area of unified light, shade, or color in a painting.
Bulk
The major part of something.
The bulk of my income comes from my office job, but I also teach a couple of evening classes.
I understood the bulk of what you were saying, just one of two points I need to hear again.
Mass
(Pharmacology) A thick, pasty mixture containing drugs from which pills are formed.
Bulk
Dietary fibre.
Mass
Masses The body of common people or people of low socioeconomic status
"Give me your tired, your poor, / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" (Emma Lazarus).
Bulk
Unpackaged goods when transported in large volumes, e.g. coal, ore or grain.
Mass
To gather or be gathered into a mass.
Bulk
(countable) a cargo or any items moved or communicated in the manner of cargo.
Mass
Of, relating to, characteristic of, directed at, or attended by a large number of people
Mass education.
Mass communication.
Bulk
(bodybuilding) Excess body mass, especially muscle.
Mass
Done or carried out on a large scale
Mass production.
Bulk
(bodybuilding) A period where one tries to gain muscle.
Mass
Total; complete
The mass result is impressive.
Bulk
(brane cosmology) A hypothetical higher-dimensional space within which our own four-dimensional universe may exist.
Mass
(physical) Matter, material.
Bulk
(obsolete) The body.
Mass
A quantity of matter cohering together so as to make one body, or an aggregation of particles or things which collectively make one body or quantity, usually of considerable size.
Bulk
Being large in size, mass or volume (of goods, etc.)
Mass
(obsolete) Precious metal, especially gold or silver.
Bulk
Total
Mass
(physics) The quantity of matter which a body contains, irrespective of its bulk or volume. It is one of four fundamental properties of matter. SI unit of mass: kilogram.
Bulk
(intransitive) To appear or seem to be, as to bulk or extent.
Mass
(pharmaceutical drug) A medicinal substance made into a cohesive, homogeneous lump, of consistency suitable for making pills; as, blue mass.
Bulk
(intransitive) To grow in size; to swell or expand.
Mass
(medicine) A palpable or visible abnormal globular structure; a tumor.
Bulk
(intransitive) To gain body mass by means of diet, exercise, etc.
Mass
(bodybuilding) Excess body weight, especially in the form of muscle hypertrophy.
Bulk
(transitive) To put or hold in bulk.
Mass
(proscribed) weight
Bulk
To add bulk to, to bulk out.
Mass
A large quantity; a sum.
Bulk
Magnitude of material substance; dimensions; mass; size; as, an ox or ship of great bulk.
Against these forces there were prepared near one hundred ships; not so great of bulk indeed, but of a more nimble motion, and more serviceable.
Mass
Bulk; magnitude; body; size.
Bulk
The main mass or body; the largest or principal portion; the majority; as, the bulk of a debt.
The bulk of the people must labor, Burke told them, "to obtain what by labor can be obtained."
Mass
The principal part; the main body.
Bulk
The cargo of a vessel when stowed.
Mass
A large body of individuals, especially persons.
The mass of spectators didn't see the infraction on the field.
A mass of ships converged on the beaches of Dunkirk.
Bulk
The body.
My liver leaped within my bulk.
Mass
(in the plural) The lower classes of persons.
The masses are revolting.
Bulk
A projecting part of a building.
Here, stand behind this bulk.
Mass
(Christianity) The Eucharist, now especially in Roman Catholicism.
Bulk
To appear or seem to be, as to bulk or extent; to swell.
The fame of Warburton possibly bulked larger for the moment.
Mass
(Christianity) Celebration of the Eucharist.
Bulk
The property resulting from being or relating to the greater in number of two parts; the main part;
The majority of his customers prefer it
The bulk of the work is finished
Mass
The sacrament of the Eucharist.
Bulk
The property of something that is great in magnitude;
It is cheaper to buy it in bulk
He received a mass of correspondence
The volume of exports
Mass
A musical setting of parts of the mass.
Bulk
The property possessed by a large mass
Mass
(transitive) To form or collect into a mass; to form into a collective body; to bring together into masses; to assemble.
Bulk
Stick out or up;
The parcel bulked in the sack
Mass
(intransitive) To assemble in a mass
Bulk
Cause to bulge or swell outwards
Mass
To celebrate mass.
Mass
Involving a mass of things; concerning a large quantity or number.
There is evidence of mass extinctions in the distant past.
Mass
Involving a mass of people; of, for, or by the masses.
Mass unemployment resulted from the financial collapse.
Mass
The sacrifice in the sacrament of the Eucharist, or the consecration and oblation of the host.
Mass
The portions of the Mass usually set to music, considered as a musical composition; - namely, the Kyrie, the Gloria, the Credo, the Sanctus, and the Agnus Dei, besides sometimes an Offertory and the Benedictus.
Mass
A quantity of matter cohering together so as to make one body, or an aggregation of particles or things which collectively make one body or quantity, usually of considerable size; as, a mass of ore, metal, sand, or water.
If it were not for these principles, the bodies of the earth, planets, comets, sun, and all things in them, would grow cold and freeze, and become inactive masses.
A deep mass of continual sea is slower stirredTo rage.
Mass
A medicinal substance made into a cohesive, homogeneous lump, of consistency suitable for making pills; as, blue mass.
Mass
A large quantity; a sum.
All the mass of gold that comes into Spain.
He had spent a huge mass of treasure.
Mass
Bulk; magnitude; body; size.
This army of such mass and charge.
Mass
The principal part; the main body.
Night closed upon the pursuit, and aided the mass of the fugitives in their escape.
Mass
The quantity of matter which a body contains, irrespective of its bulk or volume.
Mass
To celebrate Mass.
Mass
To form or collect into a mass; to form into a collective body; to bring together into masses; to assemble.
But mass them together and they are terrible indeed.
Mass
The property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
Mass
(often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent;
A batch of letters
A deal of trouble
A lot of money
He made a mint on the stock market
It must have cost plenty
Mass
An ill-structured collection of similar things (objects or people)
Mass
(Roman Catholic Church and Protestant Churches) the celebration of the Eucharist
Mass
A body of matter without definite shape;
A huge ice mass
Mass
The common people generally;
Separate the warriors from the mass
Power to the people
Mass
The property of something that is great in magnitude;
It is cheaper to buy it in bulk
He received a mass of correspondence
The volume of exports
Mass
A musical setting for a Mass;
They played a Mass composed by Beethoven
Mass
A sequence of prayers constituting the Christian eucharistic rite;
The priest said Mass
Mass
Join together into a mass or collect or form a mass;
Crowds were massing outside the palace
Mass
Occurring widely (as to many people);
Mass destruction
Mass
Gathered or tending to gather into a mass or whole;
Aggregate expenses include expenses of all divisions combined for the entire year
The aggregated amount of indebtedness
Common Curiosities
Is buying in bulk always related to physical size?
Buying in bulk primarily refers to purchasing large quantities, which can imply a significant physical size but is more about quantity and cost savings.
How do you measure mass?
Mass is measured using scales or balances, comparing an object to known masses or using the force of gravity, in units such as kilograms or pounds.
What role does mass play in fitness and nutrition?
In fitness and nutrition, mass relates to body composition changes, including muscle and fat gain, essential for health and physical performance.
How does the concept of bulk apply to digital storage?
In digital storage, bulk can refer to the quantity of data or the physical size of storage devices, not directly related to mass but to capacity and space.
What is the significance of bulk purchases in retail?
Bulk purchases in retail offer cost savings and convenience to consumers, allowing them to buy large quantities at lower prices.
How does bulk differ from volume?
Bulk refers to the overall physical presence or size of an object, including its volume but also implying its visual and spatial impact, while volume is a precise measurement of the space an object occupies.
Can mass change if an object is divided?
The total mass of an object remains constant if divided; the sum of the masses of the pieces equals the original mass, highlighting the conservation of matter.
Can the mass of an object be directly observed?
The mass of an object cannot be directly observed; it is inferred from its effects, such as resistance to motion and gravitational pull.
Why is bulk important in shipping?
Bulk is important in shipping because it determines how much space cargo will occupy, affecting logistics, storage, and transportation costs.
Can an object have large bulk but low mass?
Yes, an object can have a large bulk but low mass, such as a large but lightweight foam structure, indicating a significant volume without a corresponding weight.
Is the concept of mass relevant in outer space?
Mass is highly relevant in outer space for understanding the dynamics of celestial bodies, spacecraft, and the effects of gravity, independent of an object's location.
How does gravity affect mass and bulk?
Gravity affects an object's weight, a force resulting from its mass, but does not affect its bulk or mass directly. Bulk may influence how an object is perceived under gravity due to its size and shape.
Why is mass a fundamental property in physics?
Mass is a fundamental property in physics because it is essential to the laws of motion and gravity, affecting how objects interact and move.
How do manufacturers consider bulk and mass in product design?
Manufacturers consider bulk for ergonomics and packaging efficiency, and mass for material selection, transport costs, and product functionality.
How does water's mass and bulk affect shipping?
Water's mass affects the buoyancy and stability of ships, while its bulk, in terms of volume, influences cargo capacity and ship design.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Improve vs. Optimize
Next Comparison
Crenellated vs. CastellatedAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
