This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

Re: a trick on weighing big ones

Dan Shapiro wrote:
> 
> Bill Kournikakis' note on topping out a scale reminded me of a trick I used
> last year.
> To weigh a big pumpkin, get (say) 6 heavy lifting people, 6 bathroom
> scales, and 6 observers.  Have all the lifters hoist the pumpkin and stand
> on the scales.  Since they can't see their feet, have the observers record
> the weights.  Then subract out what each individual weighs (someone holds
> the tarp) and compute the balance.
> 
> The procedure is a bit funky, but it is low tech, and it works.
> 
>         Dan Shapiro
> 
> Lift the pumpkin

This certainly would work.  You'd probably have to consider such a
weight a rough estimate at best, though.  The estimate will get rougher
as the number of scales increases since the inaccuracies of the scales
will also be additive.  In other words if you have 6 scales with an
accuracy of +/- 1 lb., you'd be better off with one big scale with an
accuracy of +/- 5 lbs.

Chris Wilbers
Sioux Falls, SD
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index