How is the weight of paper determined?

Question

no jokes, please. Serious question. I couldnt find the answer myself, thats y i'm asking.

Answer 1

If it is hard to weigh one paper because it is so light, then you can take a big stack of papers (of the same size area and type) and weigh the stack then divide the weight over the number of pages. Any working scale can do.

Paper is not gold and is not expensive or rare that they would make sensitive scales for it.

Answer 2

how is this in religion and spirituality

Answer 3

This took me all of 10 seconds to find.

The basis weight of a paper is the designated fixed weight of 500 sheets,

measured in pounds, in that paper's basic sheet size.

It is important to note that the "basic sheet size" is not the same

for all types of paper.

Answer 4

In Europe and Asia, it's based on grams per square meter.

But to tell you the truth, there are many types of paper (bond, cardboard, gloss, semi-gloss, for examples) and the weights seem to be based on different scales.

I started working in the printing business 45 years ago and, frankly, I was never able to figure that out.  So you if find out, please let me know.  

Answer 5

In countries that use United States paper sizes, a less direct measure known as basis weight is used in addition to or instead of grammage. The basis weight of paper is the density of paper expressed in terms of the mass of a ream of given dimensions and a sheet count. In the US system, the weight is specified in avoirdupois pounds and the sheet count of a paper ream is usually 500 sheets. However, the mass specified is not the mass of the ream that is sold to the customer. Instead, it is the mass of the uncut "basis ream" in which the sheets have some larger size. Often, this is a size used during the manufacturing process before the paper was cut to the dimensions in which it is sold. So, to compute the mass per area, one must know

the mass of the basis ream,

the number of sheets in that ream, and

the dimensions of an "uncut" sheet in that ream.

The standard dimensions and sheet count of a ream vary according to the type of paper. These "uncut" basis sizes are not normally labelled on the product, are not formally standardized, and therefore have to be guessed or inferred somehow from trading practice. Historically, this convention is the product of pragmatic considerations such as the size of a sheet mold.

By using the same basis sheet size for the same type of paper, consumers can easily compare papers of differing brands. 20 pound bond paper is always lighter and thinner than 32 pound bond, no matter what its cut size. And 20 pound bond letter size and 20 pound bond legal size papers are the same weight paper having different cut size.

However, a sheet of common copy paper that has a basis weight of 20 pounds does not have the same mass as the same size sheet of coarse paper (newsprint). In the former case, the standard ream is 500 sheets of 17 by 22 inch paper, and in the latter, 500 sheets of 24 by 36 inch paper.

Sheets 17 by 22 inches can be cut into four 8½ by 11 inch sheets, a standard for business stationery known conventionally as letter sized paper. So, the 17 by 22 inch ream became commonly used. The 25 by 38 inch book-paper ream developed because such a size can easily be cut into sixteen 6 by 9 inch book-sized sheets without significant waste.

Paper weight is sometimes stated using the "#" symbol. For example, "20#" means "20 pounds per basis ream of 500 sheets".

When the density of a ream of paper is given in pounds, it is often accompanied by its "M weight". The M weight is the weight (in pounds) of 1000 cut sheets. Paper suppliers will often charge by M weight, since it is always consistent within a specific paper size, and because it allows a simple weight calculation for shipping charges.

For example, a 500-sheet ream of 20# copy paper may specify "10 M". Therefore, 1000 sheets (or two reams) will weigh 10 lb.

Answer 6

So you ask in the religious section? Are you weighing the paper in the bible so you know how much each joint comes to?

Answer 7

with a scale

Answer 8

density= mass/volume :]

Answer 9

Scientific Answer:

Weight is the measurement of the force of gravity acting upon mass.

Therefore, to find the weight of an object, we merely multiply the mass of said object (in this case paper) by gravitational pull (which I believe is 10 newtons per kilogram on the Earth's surface), like so:

Weight = Mass × Gravity

Example: If a person has a mass of 70 kilograms, his weight on the surface of the Earth would be 700 newtons because

70 (mass) x 10 (strength of gravity) = 700

Good luck trying to find the mass of a single sheet of paper, though.

P.S. I would recommend using a scale, and a very precise one at that.

Religious Answer:

Only God knows.

Answer 10

With a very precise and sensitive scale.

Why is this in R&S?

Answer 11

A quick search reveals:  

Basis Weight

The basis weight of a paper is the designated fixed weight of 500 sheets,

measured in pounds, in that paper's basic sheet size.

It is important to note that the "basic sheet size" is not the same

for all types of paper.