Westphal Balance

Westphal balance
The beam of the balance is balanced with the plummet (glass cylinder hanging on a thin
platinum wire attached to a hook on the beam) in air using the adjustable screws on the foot.
When adjusted, the index pointer on the end of the beam lines up with the point on the
frame. The plummet is then completely immersed in the unknown liquid, and the system is
rebalanced, using a series of riders on the nine equally spaced notches on the beam, thus
specifying the value of the added mass for each decimal place. This gives the buoyant force
of the liquid relative to water, and hence the density, which may be obtained to three decimal
places [2]. The ability of an object to "float" when it is placed in a fluid is called buoyant force,
and is related to density. If an object is less dense than the fluid in which it is placed, it will
float. If it is denser than the fluid, it will sink.
Acid Battery Hydrometer
Hydrometers are used to test the state of charge of a battery cell. This is performed by
measuring the density of the electrolyte, which is accomplished by measuring the specific
gravity of the electrolyte. The greater the concentration of sulfuric acid, the more dense the
electrolyte becomes.
A Battery hydrometer consists of a sealed hollow glass tube which has a bulb on its
bottom filled with mercury to provide stability. The test liquid is poured inside a
measuring cylinder and the hydrometer is generally lowered into the liquid and
allowed to float freely. The point at which the liquid touches the stem tells the specific
gravity of the liquid.
An acid-battery hydrometer can be used to determine the specific gravity of the

sulfuric acid present in lead-acid batteries at a certain temperature. This in turn tells
us the concentration of the sulfuric acid in the battery.
The acid battery hydrometer is used to measure the state of charge of lead-acid
batteries used in the automobile industries.
Lower the concentration of the sulphuric acid, more discharged the battery
is.Remember, the lower the float drops in the electrolyte, the lower its specific
gravity, the lower the charge.
Measuring the density and specific gravity of battery acid in lead acid batteries :: Anton Paar Wiki
(anton-paar.com)
Brix Hydrometer
A hydrometer calibrated to read in degrees of Brix or Balling, or

percent of pure sucrose (sugar) by weight. Brix scale, which measures the
amount of sugar in the liquid. The scale goes from 0 to 30, which stands for the percentage of
sugar in the liquid. So 13 means the liquid is made up of 13 percent sugar. Wineries use this
information to determine whether a certain juice has enough sugar to make wine out of it. This
type of hydrometer is also referred to as a saccharometer.
Brix (°Bx) is a way to measure the potential alcohol content of a
wine before it’s made by determining the sugar level in grapes. Each
gram of sugar that’s fermented will turn into about a 1/2 gram of
alcohol.
What is Brix? Winemaking Secrets | Wine Folly
How to Use and Read a Hydrometer - Grainger KnowHow
Antifreeze hydrometer
Suck in coolant from the header tank; if there is a float, take a

reading where the float breaks the liquid surface and convert
to antifreeze strength on the hydrometer chart. If there are balls,
the numbers and colours floating show the strength;check the
instructions.
Because water has good properties as a coolant, water plus antifreeze is used in internal
combustion engines and other heat transfer applications, such as HVAC chillers and solar
water heaters. The purpose of antifreeze is to prevent a rigid enclosure from bursting due to
expansion when water freezes. Its principle is when filled, pointer will float to indicate freeze
protection.
This simple device is used to determine the ratio of antifreeze to water used for
engine cooling. The desired value depends on the season of use, hence the
term "winterizing" when it's important the coolant doesn't freeze.
What is a antifreeze hydrometer? (findanyanswer.com)
How does an alcoholmeter differ from a hygrometer?
Alcoholmeter
This should only be used in pure, distilled spirits when you want to determine the volume % or
proof of the spirit. It is calibrated to the density of pure ethanol. Simply float it in your spirit, and
where the line crosses, there’s your % alcohol. Because water is thicker than alcohol, more water
means that the liquid is thicker and the alcoholmeter can’t sink as deep.
Remember that this will only work on a pure, distilled spirit that contains no sugar or glycerin.
Even some commercial products have a tiny bit of sugar or glycerin added just to give it a little
bit of mouth feel. You may be surprised if you test a commercial vodka that’s supposed to be
40% and it registers at only 36%. This is because there’s a tiny bit of something in that vodka that
they’re using to make it a little bit thicker, so the alcoholmeter doesn’t sink as deeply, giving an
inaccurate reading.
An alcoholometer is a hydrometer which is used for determining the alcoholic strength of liquids. It
is also known as a proof and traille hydrometer. It only measures the density of the fluid. Certain
assumptions are made to estimate the amount of alcohol present in the fluid. Alcoholometers have
scales marked with volume percents of "potential alcohol", based on a pre-calculated specific
gravity. A higher "potential alcohol" reading on this scale is caused by a greater specific gravity,
assumed to be caused by the introduction of dissolved sugars. A reading is taken before and after
fermentation and approximate alcohol content is determined by subtracting the post fermentation
reading from the prefermentation reading.
Hygrometer
A hygrometer is a tool used to measure the moisture content of the air. It can be used either
indoors or outdoors, but devices are usually specifically for one or the other. The hygrometer is
very specialized and only gathers data about moisture content. If someone wanted to report a full
humidity reading, such as relative humidity or dew point (two measurements used commonly in
weather reports), they would more than likely also have to collect other data, like temperature or
atmospheric pressure.
Alcoholmeter or Hydrometer - Brewhaus America
What is a Hygrometer? - Definition & Uses - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com
Does specific gravity of liquids affect the boiling point of the said liquid or substance atmospheric
condition? Give at least 8 substances with different specific gravities and their corresponding boiling
points.
Frequently Asked Questions: What is Specific Gravity? (fluidswitch.com)
Density and Specific Gravity ASTM D792, ISO 1183 (intertek.com)
specific gravity: Methods of Determining Specific Gravity | Infoplease

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Westphal balance

Acid Battery Hydrometer

An acid-battery hydrometer can be used to determine the specific gravity of the

A hydrometer calibrated to read in degrees of Brix or Balling, or

How to Use and Read a Hydrometer - Grainger KnowHow

Suck in coolant from the header tank; if there is a float, take a

How does an alcoholmeter differ from a hygrometer?

Alcoholmeter or Hydrometer - Brewhaus America

Frequently Asked Questions: What is Specific Gravity? (fluidswitch.com)

Density and Specific Gravity ASTM D792, ISO 1183 (intertek.com)

specific gravity: Methods of Determining Specific Gravity | Infoplease

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