Strength is the result of the interaction between two or more bodies. This quantity is measured in newton (N) according to I.I.
A device that can be used to measure force is called a dynamometer.
This device is equipped with:
• Structure
• Spring
• Hook at one end of the spring
• Graduation in structure
At one end of the spring is attached the graduated frame and at the other end, the hook, which is located outside the frame (see figure 1).
Dynamometer
The operating principle consists of the deformation that the spring undergoes due to the action of a force that is proportional to this applied force, its intensity is indicated in the graduation existing in the structure (dynamometer ideal).
At some fairs, fish sellers use a device with these characteristics in order to measure the mass (mass is usually referred to as weight) of the fish sold. Mass and weight are different quantities; one way to solve this impasse is to associate the graduation with the division of each value by 9.8 (value of gravity acceleration near the Earth), because then it will be able to to measure the mass that fish have in approximate value, since the acceleration of gravity on the earth's surface is variable, making the mass also variable, and if graded as proposed (dividing the scale values by 9.8) this device would only measure the mass at an approximate value in places that have the acceleration of gravity equal to or very close to 9.8m/s².
Pliers for weighing fish
The dynamometer can become an approximation scale
By Frederico Borges de Almeida
Graduated in Physics
Brazil School Team
mechanics - Physics - Brazil School