The spring on the scale (assuming that that's how the scale is built -- other technologies such as strain gauges can also be used) is depressed by the object on the scale (the downward action force), and reaches equilibrium when the reactive force of the compressed spring (the reaction force) counters the downward force of the object. The distance that the spring is compressed is linked to a pointer on the scale's dial that moves a corresponding distance.noosah said:so my question is a little dumb, if an object on a scale has a weight that points downwards and the scale exert normal force on the object upwards cancelling the forces acted on the object then what does the scale read? also the action-reaction pair to the normal force is supposed to be the force that the object act on the scale, is this what the scale reads?
Yes.noosah said:the force that the object act on the scale, is this what the scale reads?
If the scale is not actually accelerating up or downwards then the scale measures the weight force of the object on it.noosah said:is this what the scale reads?
A vector of forces is a mathematical representation of multiple forces acting on an object. It includes both the magnitude and direction of each force.
A single force only has magnitude and acts in a specific direction, while a vector of forces takes into account multiple forces acting on an object.
A scale measures the total magnitude of all the forces acting on an object. It does this by balancing the object with an equal and opposite force, which is then measured by the scale.
Yes, a vector of forces can be balanced if the total magnitude of all the forces acting on an object is equal to zero. This means that the object will not move or accelerate.
A vector of forces can be resolved into its components by using trigonometric functions. The horizontal and vertical components can be calculated using the angle and magnitude of the original vector.