Originally Posted by
Groundloop
They are only called Weight and Balance forms by common usage, but that is still wrong. As I said before, if you are entering values in pounds or kilos then you are entering values as masses, the unit of weight is the Netwton. You don't enter Newtons on your forms , do you?
They are measuring and recording weight, because the transducers used are usually either load-cells or springs. You can only measure mass with a static balance* comparing the weight of your item to that of a standard, and these aren't used. The units used are actually the weight units "Lbf" or "Kgf", but they don't bother writing down the "f" bit. The calibration assumes a standard G value of 9.81m/sec^2 and isn't changed for use at different altitudes or lattitudes (which it would have to be if they were actually measiuring mass).
If you go into a german market and buy a half-kilo of peaches, measured in a spring balance, then he is selling by weight regardless of whether the unit used is kilos, newtons or punts (500g).
PDR
*OK, you can do a dynamic parametric measurement using velocity when subjected to a certain force, but the only people who do anything close to that are the baggage hadlers at chicago when they throw your baggage down to the tarmac on unloading