What Does Steelyard Mean?
A Balance in Which an Object to Be Weighed Is Suspended from the Shorter Arm of a Lever and the Weight Determined by Moving a Counterpoise Along a Graduated...
: a balance in which an object to be weighed is suspended from the shorter arm of a lever and the weight determined by moving a counterpoise along a graduated scale on the longer arm until equilibrium is attained.
What is a steelyard used for?
Steelyards of different sizes have been used to weigh loads ranging from ounces to tons. A small steelyard could be a foot or less in length and thus conveniently used as a portable device that merchants and traders could use to weigh small ounce-sized items of merchandise.
How does a steelyard work?
The steelyard balance has been around since ancient times. It works by employing a counterweight and lever to weigh objects. Leverage is adjusted by sliding the counterweight on a metal arm. The balance may be used to demonstrate the principles of torque and center of mass.