Weigh Your Car Without a Scale.

[Ken]

I just happened across this while looking for something else, as usual. Pretty cool. :cool​

Evidently a lesson from Colorado State. :confused​

[size=+2]Weigh Your Car Without a Scale. No Weigh! Weigh![/size]

Purpose: To determine a method of weighing a car with the materials given.

Background: Students should be familiar with the equation pressure=force/area

Materials: String, ruler, paper, tire gauge, and jack or tire print (the air pressure in this tire was 30 psi).

Procedure:

1. Devise a procedure for weighing a car using the above materials.
2. As a class discuss the methods that have been created.
3. Choose one of the procedures and test it.

Conclusions:

1. Describe the method used to estimate the car’s weight.
2. How close was your estimated weight to the car’s actual weight (usually given in the car’s door or manual).
3. Calculate your percentage of error. Remember that percentage of error = (accepted value-measured value)/accepted value multiplied by 100.
4. Identify the sources of error.

As a sidenote; anybody know of a public scale in the South Bay area? I know I've seen 'em, I just can't remember where, and can't find anything on the Internet.

 

[JonM]

I'll bet a scrap metal dealer would do it for you, or even a weigh station along the hiway...just tell them its a class project. Lots of truck stops have scales.

 

[Ken]

I'm talkin' local Jon. I know there are truck scales on the outskirts of town, but I'm sure there is one near me in Gardena; I just can't remember where.

 

[photovette]

Every land fill and dump has'em.

 

[JonM]

I just can't remember where.

The memory is usually the second thing to go Ken...:L

 

[Ken]

Well, the first is long gone! At least, there hasn't been a use for it. Is there a need? Yes! :L

 

[yellow_2002_germany]

I just happened across this while looking for something else, as usual. Pretty cool. :cool​

Evidently a lesson from Colorado State. :confused​

[size=+2]Weigh Your Car Without a Scale. No Weigh! Weigh![/size]

Purpose: To determine a method of weighing a car with the materials given.

Background: Students should be familiar with the equation pressure=force/area

Materials: String, ruler, paper, tire gauge, and jack or tire print (the air pressure in this tire was 30 psi).

Procedure:

1. Devise a procedure for weighing a car using the above materials.
2. As a class discuss the methods that have been created.
3. Choose one of the procedures and test it.

Conclusions:

1. Describe the method used to estimate the car’s weight.
2. How close was your estimated weight to the car’s actual weight (usually given in the car’s door or manual).
3. Calculate your percentage of error. Remember that percentage of error = (accepted value-measured value)/accepted value multiplied by 100.
4. Identify the sources of error.

Being in the Air Force I would just say "Airman, get that car weighed!" And soon after, I would have the answer!

 

[Tom Bryant]

Ken,

This is interesting. Do they have a link to the results of this assignment?

As for getting your car weighed, most truck scales click off 20# increments so you won't get a real fine tuned reading. I drive my car across one of the 3 platforms we load tank trailers on occasionally to see what my car weighs. I can get total or front and rear. Also could get each corner by placing one tire on at a time. The Scales at a truck stop would not be too happy with you wanting to do this. Truckers waiting in line might even call you a name or 2. :L Plus each weigh will cost you.

More important than gross weight is weight at each corner. Do you know anyone that races circle track? Most of those guys use the 4 small platform portable scales to balance their race cars. My wife's cousins run a few circle cars out of their race shop in town and they have one. Real slick. Another cousin that just went ASA this year also uses one to set up his car.

Tom

 

[Ken]

I didn't see any results Tom, possibly there aren't any and it's simply a classroom instructional layout.

I'm not setting the car up with coilovers or anything, I just want a ballpark figure on overall weight. I know it can't be that far from the factory weight, but I should have lost some weight with all that I removed.

 

[Tuna]

In the past when I have weighted my car, I used a local material dealer - you know, rocks, gravel, dirt, cotton seed hulls, etc. A lot of these places expect people to drive in with pick-ups, trailers, etc. and fill up. They weight them empty and then full and charge for the difference.

I went to one and ask to weight my car. They charged me a couple of bucks to drive on their scale. 3320 as I recall without me in it.