Slope's Effect On Accurate Weighing

We often have customers call in with concerns that their floor is out of level and what affect that will have on their weight readings. The scale is designed with the assumption that the load will be parallel to the direction of gravity and perpendicular to the weighing platform; meaning, there is only a vertical force. An uneven balance or scale causes the introduction of a horizontal force which affects the weight reading. The general rule of thumb is that if it’s an industrial application such as a floor scale as long as all of the feet are touching the ground the results will be within tolerance. For laboratories, however, and customers who want more than a general “rule of thumb” response there is actually a procedure for determining the exact effect the slope will have on the measurement. Bear with me through a few formulas below and the next time a customer calls and asks about floor specifications you can provide them with an exact mathematic response.