Re: Apparent weight

["A. R. Marlow" <marlow@loyno.edu>]

yOn Wed, 25 Feb 1998, David Dockstader wrote:

> On Sun, 22 Feb 1998 19:48:34 -0600 (CST) A. R. Marlow said:
> > As discussed in many previous posts, I have no problem with that, and
> > accept various pressure sensitive devices (as well as human tactile
> > sensation as an approximate guide over a limited region) as valid bases
> > for independent force measurements.
> How do you determine your zero reading for these devices?

I don't have a problem with the naive way as a rough initial indicator for
the primitive concept of force:  for the human tactile sensor, the
atmospheric pressure equilibrium situation is taken as the normal (zero
net force), and felt departures from this of greater or lesser
"amount" (from light to forceful all the way to painful)  are taken as
rough measures of greater or lesser forces being applied.  Granted the
subjective nature of such sensitivity, much refinement is needed (as in
all cases of going beyond the estimation of the human senses to real
scientifically precise measurement), but its a start.  Piezoelectric
sensors would be a possible next step, with zero potential difference as
the zero reading.

A. R. Marlow                          E-MAIL:  marlow@loyno.edu
Department of Physics, Box 124        PHONE:   (504) 865 3647  (Office)  
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