An analytical balance is sensitive enough to measure the weight of particles ejected for engines like this F101.

Although this US Air Force report is a couple decades old, it illustrates an important fact about sophisticated laboratory measurements.  Here you have the Air Force trying to quantify and characterize emissions from jet engines.  The researchers used all sorts of sensitive instruments  –scanning electron microscopes, spark source mass spectrometers, and gas chromatographs/mass spectrometers.  Along with all those multisyllabic marvels, they also used that workhorse of the well-equipped lab: the analytical balance.  The analytical balance is used to measure the minute change of mass in particle collectors at the jet engine exhaust.  Just a reminder of the power of that everyday instrument.

For further information visit www.dtic.mil.

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