Two different instruments are commonly used in a school laboratory to measure…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · AP · Physics 1: Algebra-based · Force and Translational Dynamics · Force and Translational Dynamics
Problem
Two different instruments are commonly used in a school laboratory to measure matter-related quantities: a beam balance and a spring balance.
(i) Explain how a beam balance measures the mass of an object and why its reading is unaffected by the local value of acceleration due to gravity.
(ii) Explain how a spring balance measures the weight of an object and why its reading changes with the local value of acceleration due to gravity.
(iii) Describe what would happen to the weight of an object if it could be taken to the centre of the Earth, and state the reason for your answer.