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š¬ Think about it
You have used a spring balance to weigh things. But weight is just one kind of force — the Earth's pull. Could the same spring balance measure any force? Let us find out how we measure how strong a force is.
How do we measure the magnitude of a force?
- We use a spring balance.
- The weight of an object is the gravitational force with which the Earth pulls it.
- A spring balance can measure not just weight but any force in general.
- Pulling its free end measures the force with which you pull the spring.
Example:
Hooking an object to a spring balance shows its weight — the Earth's pull on it — in newtons.
š§© Threads of Curiosity
- The smallest forces we can directly feel are around millinewtons (10 −3 N), like a light touch.
- Scientists can measure far smaller forces, down to yoctonewtons (10 −24 N) in special experiments (as of 2026).
ā Test Yourself
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What instrument measures the magnitude of a force?
View Answer
A spring balance. -
What is the weight of an object?
View Answer
The gravitational force with which the Earth pulls the object.
Important Definitions
- Weight — the gravitational force with which the Earth pulls an object.
- Spring balance — an instrument used to measure the magnitude of a force.
