How to Find the Weight of an Object Without a Scale

Note that this method is only used by astronauts to measure a spaceship. This won't work in daily life, because resistance is everywhere.

1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1e\/Find-the-Weight-of-an-Object-Without-a-Scale-Step-4-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Find-the-Weight-of-an-Object-Without-a-Scale-Step-4-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1e\/Find-the-Weight-of-an-Object-Without-a-Scale-Step-4-Version-4.jpg\/aid691882-v4-728px-Find-the-Weight-of-an-Object-Without-a-Scale-Step-4-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
   1
   Figure out the object's acceleration.
2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/9a\/Find-the-Weight-of-an-Object-Without-a-Scale-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Find-the-Weight-of-an-Object-Without-a-Scale-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9a\/Find-the-Weight-of-an-Object-Without-a-Scale-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/aid691882-v4-728px-Find-the-Weight-of-an-Object-Without-a-Scale-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
   2
   Figure out the mass through the force exerted. Do this by dividing the acceleration by the force exerted (by Newton's second law: force equals mass times acceleration). ^[4]

   • For example, if a cube has an acceleration of 1000 millimetres per second squared (always measure in millimetres) and the force exerted is 2 kilograms millimetres per second squared, then the cube must weigh 2 grams.
Advertisement

1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/ca\/Find-the-Weight-of-an-Object-Without-a-Scale-Step-6-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Find-the-Weight-of-an-Object-Without-a-Scale-Step-6-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/ca\/Find-the-Weight-of-an-Object-Without-a-Scale-Step-6-Version-2.jpg\/aid691882-v4-728px-Find-the-Weight-of-an-Object-Without-a-Scale-Step-6-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
   1
   Balance a balance with lightweight, identical cups at both ends. This can be a ruler balanced on an object, or a string over something with little friction with cups tied at both ends. ^[5]
2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/96\/Find-the-Weight-of-an-Object-Without-a-Scale-Step-7-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Find-the-Weight-of-an-Object-Without-a-Scale-Step-7-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/96\/Find-the-Weight-of-an-Object-Without-a-Scale-Step-7-Version-2.jpg\/aid691882-v4-728px-Find-the-Weight-of-an-Object-Without-a-Scale-Step-7-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
   2
   Place the object at one end, and fill the other cup with pure water until it balances with the object. If the object is too light to find the weight this way, you'll need to either decrease the friction at the pulley or at the fulcrum, or use lighter-weight materials for the balance and cups. ^[6]
3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/47\/Find-the-Weight-of-an-Object-Without-a-Scale-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Find-the-Weight-of-an-Object-Without-a-Scale-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/47\/Find-the-Weight-of-an-Object-Without-a-Scale-Step-8.jpg\/aid691882-v4-728px-Find-the-Weight-of-an-Object-Without-a-Scale-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
   3
   Measure the volume of the matching water, and convert to milliliters. The volume in milliliters is the same as the weight in grams. ^[7]
Advertisement