Does standing on bathroom scale depress or compress spring

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Bathroom scales operate by measuring the force exerted on a spring when a person stands on the scale. This force compresses the spring, which in turn generates a restoring force that pushes back up. The scale's indicator reflects the weight based on the degree of spring compression, which is proportional to the downward force applied. The measurement involves both the weight pushing down and the spring's reaction pushing up, illustrating Newton's third law of motion. Ultimately, the scale calculates the force based on the spring's movement, providing an accurate weight reading.
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I am unsure how bathroom scales work. Does your weight compress or depress the spring? Do scales measure the upward or downward force? Please explain in detail.
 
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Conde said:
I am unsure how bathroom scales work. Does your weight compress or depress the spring? Do scales measure the upward or downward force? Please explain in detail.

Welcome to the PF.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weighing_scale

.
 
Thanks for your reply. I am still confused as to whether when you stand on a scale you are pushing the spring down, which sounds more likely or whether as is written in some books, the spring is pushing up. Also is your weight measured from the scale pushing up, or from your weight pushing down. I appreciate the clarification so I can really understand how the scale works.
 
Conde said:
Thanks for your reply. I am still confused as to whether when you stand on a scale you are pushing the spring down, which sounds more likely or whether as is written in some books, the spring is pushing up. Also is your weight measured from the scale pushing up, or from your weight pushing down. I appreciate the clarification so I can really understand how the scale works.

In the linear region of the spring's action, the following equation holds:

F = -kΔx

That means that the force F down on the spring will cause its size to shrink in proportion to the force (and in relation to the "spring constant" k). So if object 2 is twice as heavy as object 1, object 2 will cause twice as big of a Δx shrinkage. The movement down of the scale platform is used to turn the indicator to the corresponding weight of the object. The farther down the spring is compressed, the more the dial moves to show the heavier weight.

More info on springs:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_(device )

.
 
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Conde said:
Thanks for your reply. I am still confused as to whether when you stand on a scale you are pushing the spring down, which sounds more likely or whether as is written in some books, the spring is pushing up. Also is your weight measured from the scale pushing up, or from your weight pushing down. I appreciate the clarification so I can really understand how the scale works.
Both! You push the spring down and in return, it pushes you back up.

All forces come in similar pairs.
 
Plus, it could be instructive to explore the use of strain-gauges in decent scales. Springs are not the end-all.
 
Thanks everyone,
one last question which I still do not have clarified is whether the scale is measuring the restoring force or the actual force of the weight.
 
Conde said:
Thanks everyone,
one last question which I still do not have clarified is whether the scale is measuring the restoring force or the actual force of the weight.
It must be both or neither: because they come in pairs, it can't be one or the other. But whether it is both or neither is a choice I leave to you. To explain what the scale actually does: the scale has sensors (as turbo suggested) that directly measure the movement (strain) of the spring. The scale then calculates the force required to cause that amount of movement.
 
You have all really clarified this for me. Thanks for your time.
 

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