A spring scale is simply a spring fixed at one end with a hook to attach an object at the other. Spring scales are used to measure the force of a load. Spring scales measure the downward pull due to the earth's gravitational force of attraction, measured in units called newtons. Other spring scales measure in grams (g). The gram scale measures the mass of objects. Some spring scales have the newton scale on one side and the gram scale on the other. When using a spring scale make sure and determine the scale increment using the same procedure you did with the graduated cylinder.

You Try!

Determine the reading on the following spring scales.