High School

Which one of the following is the most precise balance and why?

A. Beam balance
B. Physical balance
C. Electronic balance

Answer :

An electronic balance is the most precise for measuring mass, providing readings up to the nearest thousandth of a gram, while beam and physical balances typically only measure to the nearest tenth of a gram. Therefore the correct option is c. electronic balance.

The electronic balance is the most precise balance for measuring the mass of an object. While a beam balance or a physical balance (e.g., double-pan mechanical balance) may only provide measurements to the nearest tenth of a gram, contemporary digital scales can measure mass up to the nearest thousandth of a gram.

In college-level laboratories and higher-end research settings, electronic balances have largely replaced mechanical balances due to their superior precision and accuracy. These balances function by detecting the displacement caused by the object's mass and producing a counterbalancing electromagnetic force that is converted into a weight measurement.