Question

A physical balance can be used to measure both mass and weight of an object. Is this statement true?

Answer 1

Hint: Here, we will proceed by defining the terms mass and weight. Here, we will mention the difference between these two terms. Finally, we will discuss the purpose of physical balance and how it works.

Complete Step-by-Step solution:
Everything is made up of matter and the amount of matter contained in a body is referred to as the mass of the body whereas the weight of that body is defined as the gravitational pull experienced by that body. Amount of the force of gravitational pull which is acting on the body is called the weight of that body. The acceleration due to gravity for earth is given by g = 9.81 m/${{\text{s}}^2}$.
If the mass of a body is m, then the weight of that body is given by
W = mg where g is acceleration due to gravity for earth is given by g = 9.81 m/${{\text{s}}^2}$
Basically, a physical balance is simply a weight measuring instrument. It is used to measure the weight of any unknown object with the help of the other object with known weight. In order to measure the weight of the unknown object, we place this object of unknown weight in one pan of the physical balance and then place an object of known weight in the other pan available in the physical balance. The physical balance is a weight measuring instrument which is very sensitive to the environmental factors. Due to this reason the whole setup of the physical balance is placed in a protective glass so that the whole process of weight measurement is carried out in vacuum (i.e., in the absence of air, wind, sound, etc). This gives an accurate measurement of weight of the unknown object. This weight measuring instrument can also be used even to measure the weights of the order of milligrams.
Therefore, a physical balance can be used to measure only weight of an object. Measuring the mass of the body with the help of a physical balance is not possible. This means that the given statement “A physical balance can be used to measure both mass and weight of an object” is false.

Hence, the given statement is not true.

Note- Physical balance is mostly used to compare the weights or masses of two objects. A spring balance is mainly used if we want to measure the weight of an object. The spring balance gives an accurate and precise reading of the weight of the object and is far better than the physical balance.