Australia's Science Forum

Does anyone still use beam balances?
We have about 15, and we just got another 6 or so because " they don't won't zero or work and need to be chucked" . I got all of them to zero and work.
They only get used for prac tests, and I don't think the students will ever use one again in their life, so just interested.

We still have them here, only about 10 or so. They tend to be used for practical skills with year 7 at the beginning of the year and that's about all.
after that they use electronic balances.

We have 6 that were used with year 7 but that seems to have gone out the window along with other skills of reading scales and learning about weighing the mass of things. Just don't do it any more.

Seem to be dust collectors these days. The students don't have to learn how to use them and the teachers don't have the time to show them how to use them just for the sake of it.

That's pretty much what I thought

Ours are used every year for year 7 - Working as a Scientist and then they are used periodically throughout the year. We also use them for the year 9 practical assessment weighing tasks and have a digital balance at another station as well.

we use ours for year 7 too. Our set of 12 has diminished to 10, if anyone was throwing them out, i would be happy to take them off your hands at SLAMN this year!

I have so many in the cupboard. I think most of them work.... hahaha

I don't remember using them last year at all??!

we use them for one week a year only