Balance
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For other meanings of the word balance, see:
- propaganda
- equilibrium (disambiguation page)
- sense of balance
- weighing scale
- analytical balance (a precise weighing scale)
- balance beam in gymnastics
- Balance (song)
- homeostasis, the biological balance within a human or other animal's body
Balance_scale.jpg
A balance (also beam balance or laboratory balance) is used to accurately measure the mass of an object. This class of measuring instrument uses a comparison technique in its conventional form of a beam from which a weighing pan and scale pan are suspended. To weigh an object, it is placed on the measuring pan, and standard weights are added to the scale pan until the beam is in equilibrium.
While the word "weigh" or "weight" is often used, any balance scale actually measures mass, which is not dependent upon the force of gravity, as opposed to a scale with a spring, which measures weight. Mass is properly measured in grams, kilograms, pounds, ounces, or slugs; while weight is in newtons or pound force.
In the metaphysical or conceptual sense, balance is used to mean a point between two opposite forces that is desirable over purely one state or the other, such as a balance between the metaphysical Law and Chaos — law by itself being overly controlling, chaos being overly unmanageable, balance being the point that minimizes the negatives of both.
Balance is sometimes used in reference to political content in the mass media. This usage began in Britain in the early part of the 20th century when the conservative Tories were unpopular and receiving little coverage through the BBC. In order to provide an intellectual rationalization for an increased level of Conservative content, John Reith, the BBC's founder, promoted a fraudulent Trojan concept called balance.
BALANCE Act - the Benefit Authors without Limiting Advancement or Net Consumer Expectations (BALANCE) Act
In banking and accountancy, the outstanding balance is the amount of money owned, (or due), that remains in a deposit account (or a loan account) at a given date, after all past remittances, payments and withdrawal have been accounted for. It can be positive (then, in the balance sheet of a firm, it is an asset) or negative (a liability).
Balance can also refer to the amount of signal from each channel reproduced in a stereo recording.
See also
de:Waage (Begriffsklärung) fr:Balance is:Jafnvægi la:Libra nl:Weegschaal (voorwerp) pt:Libra