The correct option is (c).
Explanation
Mass and weight are fundamental concepts in physics that are often confused. Mass refers to the quantity of matter in a body and is a measure of its inertia. Weight is the force exerted on a body by gravity. While mass is intrinsic, weight depends on the local gravitational field.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Correct: Mass is a measure of inertia, which is the resistance an object offers to any change in its state of motion. It is an intrinsic property of matter and remains constant everywhere in the universe, regardless of location or speed (at non-relativistic speeds).
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: Weight is the force with which a body is attracted towards the centre of the Earth (or another celestial body). Since force has both magnitude and direction, weight is a vector quantity. Additionally, weight ($W = mg$) depends directly on the acceleration due to gravity ($g$), so it varies from place to place.
- Statement 3 is Correct: In outer space, far from massive bodies, the gravitational force is negligible ($g \approx 0$). Therefore, the weight of an object becomes zero (weightlessness). However, the mass of the object remains unchanged because the amount of matter contained in it does not depend on gravity.
Key Takeaway:
Mass is a constant, scalar quantity representing the amount of matter (inertia). Weight is a variable, vector quantity representing the gravitational force acting on that mass.