ClipArt ETC

The Balances ClipArt gallery offers 35 illustrations of a first class lever used to measure the weight or mass of an object by offsetting the object with a known weight.

A balance scale holding 5 pounds on the left and 3 and 2 pound weights on the right showing 3+2=5.

Addition Scale

A balance scale holding 5 pounds on the left and 3 and 2 pound weights on the right showing 3+2=5.

"From on pan suspend a hollow cylinder of metal t, and below that a solid cylinder a of the same size as the hollow part of the upper cylinder. Put two weights in the other scale pan until they sxactly balance the two cylinders. If a be immersed in water, te scale pan containing the weights will descend, showing that a has lost some of its weight. Now fill t with water, and the volume of water that can be poured into t will equal that displaced by a. The scale pan that contains the weights will gradually rise until t is filled, when the scales will balance again." —Hallock 1905

Archimedes Principle

"From on pan suspend a hollow cylinder of metal t, and below that a solid cylinder a of the same size…

An apparatus for weighing bodies.

Balance

An apparatus for weighing bodies.

A balance used for measuring weight.

Balance

A balance used for measuring weight.

"A representation of a common form of the delicate balances employed in physical and chemical researches. the beam is constructed so as to combine lightness with strength, and rests by a fine knife-edge on an agate plane. It is surmounted by a weight moving on a screw, so that the sensibility may be increased or diminished, according as weight is raised or depressed." — Chambers' Encyclopedia, 1875

Balance

"A representation of a common form of the delicate balances employed in physical and chemical researches.…

"When bodies of equal weight are supported by the arms of a lever, they will balance each other when placed at equal distances from the fulcrum." —Quackenbos 1859

Balance

"When bodies of equal weight are supported by the arms of a lever, they will balance each other when…

"On this principle the common balance, represented [here] is constructed. A beam is poised on the top of a pillar, so as to be exactly horizontal. From each end of the beam, at equal distances from the fulcrum, a pan is suspended by means of cords. The object to be weighed is placed in one of these plans, and the weights in the other." —Quackenbos 1859

Balance

"On this principle the common balance, represented [here] is constructed. A beam is poised on the top…

In the common balance there is a stiff piece of metal called the beam, which turns about the sharp edge of a steel wedge forming part of the beam. The scale pans rest upon the hooks of the wedges.

Balance

In the common balance there is a stiff piece of metal called the beam, which turns about the sharp edge…

A balance of great delicacy with the glass case that contains it.

Balance for Purposes of Accuracy

A balance of great delicacy with the glass case that contains it.

An illustration of a balance scale.

Balance Scale

An illustration of a balance scale.

A balance with three apples on the left and 15 blocks on the right.

Balance with Apples and Blocks

A balance with three apples on the left and 15 blocks on the right.

A balance with two blocks and a slice of cake on the left and three one-unit blocks and one 25-unit block on the right.

Balance with Cake and Blocks

A balance with two blocks and a slice of cake on the left and three one-unit blocks and one 25-unit…

A balance with nothing on either side.

Balance with Empty Pans

A balance with nothing on either side.

This antique Roman balance from Pompeii has one pan that hangs from a rod.

Antique Roman balance from Pompeii

This antique Roman balance from Pompeii has one pan that hangs from a rod.

"This is a very convenient and quite accurate method of determining specific gravity." — Ford, 1912

Beam Balance

"This is a very convenient and quite accurate method of determining specific gravity." — Ford, 1912

A chemical balance has weights on each side.

Chemical Balance

A chemical balance has weights on each side.

Chemical balance.

Chemical Balance

Chemical balance.

A weighing apparatus somewhat resembling the steelyard, but differing from it by having the fulcrum movable.

Danish Balance

A weighing apparatus somewhat resembling the steelyard, but differing from it by having the fulcrum…

An illustration of a precision balance.

Precision Balance

An illustration of a precision balance.

An image of a balance used in chemistry labs to measure small objects. This diagram details how one might build a balance.

Simple Balance

An image of a balance used in chemistry labs to measure small objects. This diagram details how one…

"A form of balance in which the weight of the body under examination is measured by the stretching (torsion) of an elastic wire in the form of a long spiral. A common use of the simple form of spiral balance is in determining the specific gravity of small fragments of minerals, which for this purpose are weighed first in the upper pan and then in that below, which is immersed in water." —Whitney, 1889

Spiral Balance

"A form of balance in which the weight of the body under examination is measured by the stretching (torsion)…

A small scale used for weighing silver, medicines, etc.

Dotchin

A small scale used for weighing silver, medicines, etc.

A young colonial woman's dower being paid in shillings according to her weight.

A Young Lady's Dower in Pine Tree Shillings

A young colonial woman's dower being paid in shillings according to her weight.

An instrument used to determine the weight of an object.

Scale

An instrument used to determine the weight of an object.

"A common scale-beam, used for weighing, is a lever, suspended at the centre of gravity, so that the two arms balance each other. Hence the machine is called a balance. The fulcrum, or what is called the pivot, is sharpended, like a wedge, and made of hardened steel, so as much as possible to avoid friction." -Comstock 1850

Scale

"A common scale-beam, used for weighing, is a lever, suspended at the centre of gravity, so that the…

Scales found at Pompeii

Scales

Scales found at Pompeii

Scales used for coining.

Scales

Scales used for coining.

"A pracitcal application of a balance/lever is a see-saw." —Quackenbos 1859

See-saw

"A pracitcal application of a balance/lever is a see-saw." —Quackenbos 1859

"The Steelyard is more portable then the ordinary balance. It consists of a lever, AB, moving round a knife-edge or point at C. The body to be weighed, W, is put into the scale which hangs from A; and a movable weight P, is made to slide along the longer arm, until the lever, AB, remains horizontal." — Chambers' Encyclopedia, 1875

Steelyard

"The Steelyard is more portable then the ordinary balance. It consists of a lever, AB, moving round…

"The steelyard differs from the balance, in having its support near one end, instead of in the middle, and also in having the weights suspended by hooks, instead of being placed in a dish." -Comstock 1850

Steelyard

"The steelyard differs from the balance, in having its support near one end, instead of in the middle,…

"When bodies of unequal weight are supported by the arms of a lever, they will balance each other whenever the weight of the one multiplied into its distance from the fulcrum." —Quackenbos 1859

Steelyard

"When bodies of unequal weight are supported by the arms of a lever, they will balance each other whenever…

"The steelyard is a kind of balance, which, though not so sensitive as the one being described above, answers very well for heavy bodies, and is conveniently carried, as it requires but a single weight, and may be held in the hand or suspended anywhere." —Quackenbos 1859

Steelyard

"The steelyard is a kind of balance, which, though not so sensitive as the one being described above,…

An illustration of an unequal-arm balance.

Unequal-arm Balance

An illustration of an unequal-arm balance.

Weighing a substance in water.

Weight

Weighing a substance in water.

An illustration showing that 1 milliliter of water weighs the same as a 1 gram.

Weight Measures

An illustration showing that 1 milliliter of water weighs the same as a 1 gram.