Dry mass — Science definition
Mass with the water driven off, used because water content varies daily and would otherwise swamp the change being measured.
Where it is taught
- Decomposition, Soil & Nutrient Availability — Ecosystems, Matter & Energy, Life Science & Scientific Inquiry, Grade 7
In use
When you measure decomposition you usually measure dry mass, the mass with the water driven off, because water content varies from day to day and would otherwise swamp the signal you are looking for.
Decomposition, Soil & Nutrient Availability
Questions using dry mass
Problem 1
Dry material changes from 25 g to 19 g. How much dry mass is lost?
Answer and explanation
6 g
25−19=6 g, without identifying every destination.