Atomic Mass

Real World Example

Imagine trying to figure out the average cost of a grocery bill when sometimes you shop for a family gathering and other times just for yourself. This is similar to how scientists determine the atomic mass of an element, which is the average mass of all its isotopes, each with its own 'grocery bill' of mass depending on how frequently it 'shops' or occurs in nature. Just like you might spend more overall on groceries when you shop for a family gathering compared to just yourself, an element's atomic mass takes into account the 'spending' or contribution of each isotope based on how commonly it is found, much like calculating an average grocery cost over time.