What do scales actually tell us?

[Pengwuino]

If you stand on a scale that says you're weight is 98kg, does that mean the scale is tellign you you weigh 98kg * m/sec^2? which inevitably means your mass is 10kg? (ok not using real world numbers here). It seems like scales weigh Force because in an elevator going down, your weight changes if your under an acceleration (and if you have ever put your arm on something while being weighed, you know your weight decreases).

So actually, what I am asking is if scale's #'s are fixed (divided by 9.8) to show mass instead of your weight

 

[Janus]

Actually it is measuring weight(force) in the gravitational MKS system. In this unit system the Kg_f is the unit of force and is considered fundamental and mass is derived.

 

[robphy]

A scale measures the magnitude of the upward normal force it applies on you.
In the english system, this force is measured in pounds (lbs).
In the metric system, this force is measured in Newtons (N). However, possibly for psychological reasons, that force in Newtons is divided by 9.8m/s^2 and presented to you in kilograms (which would be your mass, as long as you use this scale on earth).

 

[Pengwuino]

So it is divided by 9.8... thanks robphy.