The creation of a simple balance weighing machine for a school project is a good idea to get a good understanding of the basic principles of physics and measurement. This guide will guide you step-by-step to create a working and educating balance scale using everyday items.
Materials Needed:
- A sturdy wooden or cardboard base (approximately 30 cm x 15 cm)
- A wooden dowel or stick (about 30 cm long)
- String (2 pieces, each about 40 cm)
- Two small identical plastic cups
- A ruler
- A pencil or skewer (to act as the pivot)
- Hot glue gun or strong adhesive
- Scissors
- Marker (optional for labeling)
Step 1: Prepare the Base and Support
Place the wooden or cardboard base on a flat surface.
Using a hot glue gun, stick the wooden dowel upright to the center of the base. Also, ensure the rod remains steady and does not wobble from side to side when rotated.
Related – simple machine lever model
Step 2: Create the Balance Beam
- A wooden stick or dowel (about 30 cm long) can be used as the balance beam in this step.
- Pick up a steel rod, then measure and mark the middle spot into it carefully with the help of a marker.
- Drill or pierce a negligible hole in the middle to make a pivot.
Step 3: Assemble the Pivot Mechanism
- Get a pencil, bull point, or a thin piece of wood and pass it through the hole at the balance beam’s mid-spot.
- Mount the rod horizontally across the top of the vertical dowel to make the beam can spin around the dowel.
Step 4: Attach the Weighing Cups
- Drill two small holes near the rim of each plastic cup on opposite sides.
- Secure a line through the holes in each cup to form a loop.
- Then the dangling loops at the balance ends were connected. They were hung at the same distance from the pivot.
Step 5: Test and Calibrate
- Try balancing the pivot beam after it has been placed to see if it is steady when there are no objects on it.
- Re-arrange the positions of the strings if needed, so that they all have equal tension and point vertically downward if possible.
- Balance out the machine by placing equal weight in the two cups. The beam does not move out from the beam level.
Fix the lengths of the strings of the sides where the balance leans or shift the cups in the correct places.
Step 6: Label and Finish
- Alternatively, the base can be marked with the left and right textual directions with a marker.
- Take away waste glue, or get the ink markings removed.
- The balance machine should be able to pivot smoothly and show the weight difference without any problems.
How it Works
A beam balance scale functions by the help of torque. If the cups are loaded with equal weights and these weights are placed at equal distances from the pivot, the beam will not tilt. Different weights make the beam lean, and thus, the difference in weight is shown.
Applications and Learning Points:
Grasp the idea behind both balance and equilibrium. Understand the principles of torque and pivot points. Develop children’s creativity and problem-solving skills by engineering a project that performs real functions. Without needing any special tools, students can make a working balance weighing machine that shows the most important scientific aspects and it will also be a source of fun school project.
