Why Do Scales Weigh Less On Carpet

They don t they work in series.

Why do scales weigh less on carpet.

That would only work if the springs in the carpet were working in parallel to the springs on the scale. I didn t weigh my self for a while then what with the stress of moving and when i did i saw i d put on 5kg. And now we know why. Moving any digital scale can potentially affect accuracy and dependability.

David mackay a physicist at the university of cambridge heard about the strange effect after a chance. If the scale is moved and you do not calibrate it you are likely to see fluctuations in your weight. Unfortunately when your scale is on a carpeted floor the carpet presses up against your weight making the reading come across as higher than your actual weight. So i know its been shown that scales often show you weigh more when you put them on a carpet compared to a hard surface but regardless of that when i recently moved house my scales went into my carpetted room as my housemate hates scales.

Even if you put a board between the scale and the carpet the carpet will compress and prevent an accurate reading. If you lean off to one side one corner can compress the carpet more than the others and throw the scale off. A board could work but it has to allow the scale to rest evenly. If you put the scales on carpet you could find yourself weighing a lot less or a lot more depending on the scales and carpet in question.

The scale needs a non compressible surface under it. This is mainly due to the imbalance that carpets cause because the scale needs a non compressible surface underneath. If you weigh 80kg there will be 80kg on the scales 80kgs on the carpet and 80kgs on the floorboards ignoring the weight of scales and carpet. An explanation of why some scales might make you weigh.

Also when certain eatsmart models are placed on the floor with the lcd light already on the scale will display the weight of the platform 4 6lb to 5 6lb. Since 1879 measurements have been made using le grand kilo a mass of long lasting alloy of platinum and iridium on which all metric weight calculations and all scales are still based.