Balance and Scale

A scale or balance is a device used to measure weight or mass. These are also known as mass scales, weight scales, mass balances, and weight balances. Scales are used to measure actual weight, while balances are often used to measure mass. Scales utilize load cells, which are basically sensors (or transducers), to measure weight. Load cells convert the pressure or force applied by your load into a standardized digital value you can read and record, such as pounds. Balances worked by using an object with a known mass for comparison. A balance would have two pans, and the known weight would be placed in one while the unknown weight would be placed in the other. As technology has advanced, this manual comparison is no longer necessary. Similar to scales, balances use a load cell, or a magnetic force restoration transducer.