How to Make a Weight Scale
Most scales are beyond the abilities of casual hobbyists to make at home. They require careful calibration to ensure that the dial registers the correct value when a weight compresses the spring. A balance scale is the exception. By comparing the weight of an item to a known weight, the scale can precisely measure mass.
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Instructions
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Pound a nail through the middle of a thin, rectangular piece of wood, about 1.5 feet long. The nail should stick straight through so that you can balance the board by the nail.
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2
Attach a graduated cylinder to the end of each end of the scale with a small dab of glue. Make sure that the cylinders are evenly balanced. For example, if one cylinder is 1 inch in from the end, the other should be, too.
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3
Balance the scale on your fingers by resting the nail on them. The scale should balance evenly. If it lists to one side, add small pieces of tape to the other time until it is perfectly balanced.
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4
Make a stand for the scale. Cut a v-shaped groove in two pieces of wood and attach them to a base so that they are directly across from each other. Place the scale in the stand.
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Place the object you want to weigh in one cylinder. Add water to the other cylinder with a dropper one drop at a time until the two sides balance.
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Read the graduated cylinder. Each milliliter of water ways 1 gram. So, for example, if there are 15 millileters of water when the cylinders balance, the object weighs 15 grams.
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