Physics question....plz i badly need this...help....?

Question

when you weigh an object on one pan of an equal arm balance by putting standard masses on the other pan until the beam is horizontal, are you actually determining the object's weight or it's mass? what if you use a spring scale balance?

Answer 1

the difference between mass and weight is that weight is dependent on gravity. the stronger the force of gravity is the greater the weight will be. mass is always the same irrelevant of what the gravity is. so this would be determining its mass and weight (on earth they are equal).

Answer 2

The "balance scale" is used to compare masses. Since you know what you put into one cup, you can measure the mass of the object.

To see it is really the mass and not weight you are comparing or measuring this thought experiment can help: Will this work on any planet? (different gravitational acceleration)

The answer is yes. For example on the moon both cups would be lighter however both would be lighter for the same amount and the beam would stay horizontal.

The spring scale measures the force exerted on the string. So if you let an object hang, it measures weight. You have to be careful, because it was usual to put a mass scale on such a spring scales (like in kg or pounds). However this works only on Earth as g=9.81m/s^2 is taken into account.

To use our thought experiment from before: if we would use spring scale on a moon it would show less because the gravitational force of the object (weight) would be less. So this scale measures weight.

Answer 3

You are determening its weight, because the other pan only has weights on it, so mass is out of the question, you are determening its weight.

If you use a spring scale it is still weight, because mass is just size and has nothing to do with weight.

Answer 4

for an equal arm balance, you are determining the mass of the object which is the quantity of matter contained in the object and which could be transferred to energy

for a spring scale balance, it's the weight you are determining which is actually the force of gravity acting on this object