What do bathroom scales measure? When you stand on a bathroom scale, what happens to the scale? It depresses slightly.The scale contains springs that compress in proportion to your weight—similar to rubber bands expanding when pulled. Thesprings provide a measure of your weight (for an object which is not accelerating). This is a force in newtons (or pounds). Inmost countries, the measurement is divided by 9.80 to give a reading in mass units of kilograms. The scale measures weightbut is calibrated to provide information about mass. While standing on a bathroom scale, push down on a table next to you.What happens to the reading? Why? Would your scale measure the same “mass” on Earth as on the Moon?

Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based Text
5th Edition
ISBN:9781133104261
Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Chapter1: Introduction And Vectors
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 67P
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What do bathroom scales measure? When you stand on a bathroom scale, what happens to the scale? It depresses slightly.
The scale contains springs that compress in proportion to your weight—similar to rubber bands expanding when pulled. The
springs provide a measure of your weight (for an object which is not accelerating). This is a force in newtons (or pounds). In
most countries, the measurement is divided by 9.80 to give a reading in mass units of kilograms. The scale measures weight
but is calibrated to provide information about mass. While standing on a bathroom scale, push down on a table next to you.
What happens to the reading? Why? Would your scale measure the same “mass” on Earth as on the Moon?

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