Analytical balance

An analytical balance is a special type of scale used to measure very tiny amounts of things precisely.

Imagine you have a candy jar with many different types of small candies of various shapes and sizes. You want to count how many of each candy you have in the jar. If you use a normal scale, it will be hard to get an accurate count because the candy is so small and light. But if you use an analytical balance, you can accurately measure the weight of each type of candy to find out exactly how many of each you have.

The analytical balance has two sides, called the weighing pan and the beam. The object you want to weigh is put on the weighing pan, and the balance will measure the weight by using a beam to compare how much the object weighs to calibrated weights on the other side of the balance.

It is very important to keep the analytical balance very clean and protected from air currents and vibrations because even the smallest disturbance can affect the accuracy of the measurements.

People use analytical balances to measure small amounts of chemicals for experiments or research, to determine weights of tiny gems or precious metals, or in scientific fields where accuracy is paramount.