BALANCE, an instrument for deter mining the relative weights or masses of bodies. It consists of a beam with its fulcrum in the middle, and its arms pre cisely equal. From the extremities of the arms are suspended two scales, the one to receive the object to be weighed, and the other the counterpoise.
A false balance of this type is one in which the arms are unequal in length. As the balance is really a lever, it is evi dent that a smaller weight than that in the scale will put the beam into equili brium. The fraud may at once be de tected by putting the article to be weighed into the scale containing the weight, and vice versa.
Hydrostatic balance: A balance de signed for the weighing of bodies in water, with the view of ascertaining their specific gravity.
A Roman balance, the same as the steel-yard. Of this type the Chinese, the Danish or Swedish, and the bent lever balances are modifications.
In mechanics and natural philosophy: Balance of torsion: An instrument in vented by Coulomb for comparing the intensities of very small forces. It con sists of a metallic wire suspended verti-. cally from a fixed point, to the lower end of which a horizontal needle is attached with a small weight designed to keep the wire stretched. The magnitude of a small force acting on the end of the needle is measured by the amount of tor sion, or twisting of the wire—in other words, by the arc which the needle passes over measured from the point of repose.
In horology: 1. Balance of a watch: The circular hoop or ring which takes the place of the bob of a pendulum in a clock. The ac tion of a hair-spring causes it to vibrate.
2. Compensating balance of a chron ometer: A balance, or wheel, furnished with a spiral spring, with metals of dif ferent expansibility so adjusted that, in alterations of temperature, they work against each other and render the move ments of the chronometer uniform.
In astronomy: A constellation, one of the signs of the zodiac, generally desig nated by its Latin name, Libra.
In book and account keeping: The ex cess on the debtor or creditor side of an account, which requires to be met by an identical sum entered under some head ing on the other side if an equilibrium is to be established between the two.
In commercial and political economy: Balance of trade, properly an equili brium between the value of the exports from, and the imports into, any country, but more commonly the amount required on one side or other to constitute such an equilibrium.
In politics: Balance of power, such a condition of things that the power of any one state, however great, is balanced by that of the rest.