What a balance reads
Mass in grams, but often weight underneath.
The shop scale
A shopkeeper weighs rice on a balance. The scale shows grams.
What does most such a balance really measure?
What this lesson covers
The idea
Mass is measured with a balance; except two-pan balances, most balances actually measure weight, the Earth's pull in newtons, but their scales are marked in mass units (g or kg).
The shop scale
A shopkeeper weighs rice on a balance. The scale shows grams.
What does most such a balance really measure?
- The weight, shown in mass units
- The colour
- The volume
Two kinds of balances
Open both tabs.
Mass and weight
Mass is the quantity of matter, measured in g or kg. Weight is the force by which the Earth pulls an object, measured in newtons. Most balances except two-pan balances actually measure weight, but their scales are marked in mass units.
Mass: g, kg. Weight: the Earth's pull, in newtons. Most balances (except two-pan) measure weight but show mass units.
Notes
Most balances (not two-pan) measure weight but are marked in g or kg.
Check yourself
Mass is measured in …
Weight is the force by which the Earth attracts an object. It is measured in …
Which balance measures mass directly?
Most balances actually measure weight, but their scales are marked in …
- newton. Newton is the unit of weight, a force.
- m³. Cubic metre is for volume.
- g or kg — correct. Yes!
- newtons — correct. Yes!
- kilograms. Kilograms measure mass.
- litres. Litres measure volume.
- A digital balance. Most balances except two-pan ones measure weight.
- A two-pan balance — correct. Yes!
- A spring balance. Most balances except two-pan ones measure weight.
- newtons. The scale is marked in grams or kilograms.
- litres. The scale is in mass units.
- mass units (g or kg) — correct. Yes!