Laboratory balance (Weighing Scales) (Large Print)

By: Rnib Bookshare

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Synopsis: This page shows a laboratory balance seen from the side in cross section. There is a locator dot and title shown, which will be at the top left of the page when it is the correct way up. The laboratory balance is a device for measuring the mass of an object using a known mass as a reference. At the top centre of the image is the beam, stretching out to the left and right of the page. The beam is a lever that rests on a point at its centre called a fulcrum. At each end of the beam are adjusting screws. Down the page from the fulcrum is a supporting pillar and down again is the base of the balance, running across the bottom of the page. There are two scale pans up the page from the balances base. There is one is hanging from each end of the beam. The one on the left of the page has an unknown weight of a substance. Weights are added to the pan on the right until the balance beam is level; there is a large and small weight on the pan. When the beam is level, the known mass of the weights on the right pan equals the unknown mass on the left pan.