balance

balance, instrument used in laboratories and pharmacies to measure the mass or weight of a body. A balance functions by measuring the force of gravity that the earth exerts on an object, i.e., its weight. Since the mass of an object is directly proportional to its weight, a balance can also be used to measure mass.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Accuracy of Balances
• The Spring Balance
• The Unequal-Arm Balance
• The Equal-Arm Balance

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2025, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: Technology: Terms and Concepts