Quote:
Originally Posted by JesseK
Does a standard scale, such as the ones used to inspect the robots at competition, give us the weight or mass of the robot? In other words, is the number we see equal to mass*[accel due to gravity] or equal to only mass?
Using a direct weight-equals-mass calculation, I get 0.586 feet stopping distance and 488N for stopping @ 1/4".
Dividing by the acceleration of gravity, I get a stopping distance of 0.060 feet (~3/4") and ~50N to stopping @ 1/4".
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In imperial units, a scale measuring pounds gives the weight of an object, not the mass. The imperial unit of mass is slugs, which is equivelent to approx. 32 lb-mass. When doing Newtonian calculations in imperial units, you must use the units slugs, lb-force, feet, and seconds. This yields the results you mentioned first, .586 ft and ~480 N (107 lbs).