Skip to product information
Inertial Balance
Item #P4-1050
$39.00
Bundle Discount
| Unit Price | $39.00 |
| 6+ | $36.70 |
Measure mass independently of gravity using oscillation
The Inertial Balance gives students a clever, hands-on way to measure mass and clearly distinguish it from weight. By relying on oscillation rather than gravity, this classic apparatus helps students see that mass is an intrinsic property of matter—making it especially valuable for deepening conceptual understanding in mechanics and motion studies.
Why Teachers Love the Inertial Balance
- Separates mass from weight: Measures mass without relying on gravity, reinforcing a critical physics distinction.
- Conceptually powerful: Links inertia, oscillation, and mass in a clear, observable way.
- Flexible data analysis: Supports graphical analysis using software like Excel or hand-drawn graphs.
- Consistent results: Demonstrates that oscillation period is unchanged whether mass is suspended or resting.
Resources
Resources
Product Details
How the Inertial Balance Works
- Oscillating system: Two platforms are supported by spring steel strips; one end is clamped to a table while the other oscillates freely.
- Add mass: Placing mass on (or suspending it from) the free end increases inertia.
- Observe the effect: Increased inertia causes slower oscillations and a longer period.
- Compare periods: Measure oscillation periods for known masses and compare them to the period of an unknown mass.
- Determine mass: Use a graph or proportional comparison to calculate the unknown mass.
- Reinforce concepts: Suspending the mass with the included string produces the same period as resting it on the tray, showing that gravity affects weight, not mass.
Please note: A C-clamp is required to secure the apparatus to a table and is sold separately.
Warning: California Residents
WARNING: Cancer & Reproductive Harm — www.P65Warnings.ca.gov
Accessories
Recommended Products
