{"schema":"https://ver.cy/schemas/card/1.0.0","id":"vr.tr.weighing-scale","code":"thing-q134566","url":"https://ver.cy/models/thing/q134566/","name":"weighing scale","alternateNames":["weighbridge","railway weighbridge","axle load scale","trébuchet","bathroom scale","bench scale","precision balance","hydrostatic balance","spring scale","electronic scale","torsion pendulum","Wii Balance Board"],"kind":"thing","status":"published","version":"0.2.0-wave.4","language":"en","classifiers":{"family":"Thing Registry","category":"Physical world and living systems","entryKind":"thing","plane":"PHY","domain":["PHY.OBJ"],"industry":[],"navPath":"","tags":[],"facets":{}},"whatItIs":"An instrument for measuring the weight or mass of objects, ranging from balance scales that compare masses against known weights to spring scales and modern electronic scales using load cells, with types the registry aliases name such as bathroom, bench and axle-load scales, weighbridges including railway weighbridges for whole vehicles, and the trebuchet, here meaning a delicate precision balance rather than the siege engine; scales are used in commerce, health, industry and science and, for trade use, must be verified and stamped under legal metrology rules. Accuracy depends on calibration, levelling and avoiding drafts.","purpose":"Let an agent explain weighing scales, relay types, mechanisms, legal metrology and accuracy from measurement sources, describe the named types and the precision balance sense of trebuchet, and distinguish scales from balances as a subtype, load cells, and the trebuchet siege engine.","scope":{"in":[],"out":[],"boundaries":[]},"distinguishingFeatures":["Weight measurement","Many types and sizes","Legal metrology for trade","Calibration-dependent"],"structure":{"bundles":[{"id":"understand","name":"Understand","description":"What a weighing scale is.","layers":[{"id":"definition","name":"Definition","description":"Definition.","findings":[{"id":"definition-finding","name":"Definition","description":"Definition.","questions":[{"text":"What is a weighing scale, and how does it differ from balances, load cells and the trebuchet siege engine?","kind":"definition"},{"text":"Is the scale used for trade, in which case it must be verified under legal metrology rules?","kind":"boundary"}]}]},{"id":"types","name":"Types","description":"Named types.","findings":[{"id":"types-finding","name":"Types","description":"Types.","questions":[{"text":"What are bathroom, bench and axle-load scales, weighbridges and the trebuchet balance?","kind":"definition"},{"text":"Which entry fits the specific scale?","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"mechanism","name":"Mechanism","description":"Mechanisms.","layers":[{"id":"balances","name":"Balances","description":"Balance scales.","findings":[{"id":"balances-finding","name":"Balances","description":"Balances.","questions":[{"text":"How do balance scales compare masses?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which references are standard?","kind":"provenance"}]}]},{"id":"loadcells","name":"Load cells","description":"Electronic scales.","findings":[{"id":"loadcells-finding","name":"Load cells","description":"Load cells.","questions":[{"text":"How do load cells enable electronic weighing?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which sources are cited?","kind":"provenance"}]}]}]},{"id":"metrology","name":"Metrology","description":"Legal metrology.","layers":[{"id":"trade","name":"Trade","description":"Trade scales.","findings":[{"id":"trade-finding","name":"Trade","description":"Trade.","questions":[{"text":"Why must trade scales be verified and stamped?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which entry fits legal metrology?","kind":"action"}]}]},{"id":"calibration","name":"Calibration","description":"Calibration.","findings":[{"id":"calibration-finding","name":"Calibration","description":"Calibration.","questions":[{"text":"How does calibration keep scales accurate?","kind":"measurement"},{"text":"Is the information current?","kind":"boundary"}]}]}]},{"id":"context","name":"Context","description":"Uses.","layers":[{"id":"uses","name":"Uses","description":"Uses.","findings":[{"id":"uses-finding","name":"Uses","description":"Uses.","questions":[{"text":"How are scales used in commerce, health and industry?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which entry fits weighbridge?","kind":"action"}]}]},{"id":"history","name":"History","description":"History.","findings":[{"id":"history-finding","name":"History","description":"History.","questions":[{"text":"How did balance and spring scales develop historically?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Is the information accurate?","kind":"boundary"}]}]}]}]},"agentConduct":{"may":["Read and record weights from scales the agent is authorized to use.","Report when a scale is out of calibration or not level."],"mustNot":["Use or tamper with a scale so that it gives false weights in trade.","Use an unverified scale for legal-for-trade sales or for medicine doses.","Override overload limits on weighbridges or axle-load scales.","Confuse the precision balance called a trebuchet with the siege engine."],"requiresHuman":["Certifying a scale for trade or legal use."]},"ethics":{"considerations":["Short weight cheats buyers, often the poorest.","Weighing errors in medicine and freight can endanger lives."],"affectedParties":["Buyers and sellers","Patients","Hauliers"]},"owners":{"steward":"The owner or operator of the scale; legal metrology authorities verify scales used in trade.","roles":[],"masterSystems":[]},"relations":[{"target":"Q11223329","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"},{"target":"Q2041172","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"},{"target":"Q8205328","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"},{"target":"measuring instrument","type":"related","note":"in registry terms"},{"target":"load cell","type":"related","note":"in electronic types"},{"target":"balance","type":"related","note":"subtype"},{"target":"trebuchet","type":"related","note":"siege engine sense"}],"interaction":{"identity":{"applicability":"required","items":["Vercy registry: vr.tr.weighing-scale","Wikidata: Q134566 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q134566)"]},"properties":{"applicability":"required","items":["legal metrology: trade scales verified and stamped note","load cell: strain-gauge sensor note - in electronic scales","registry parents: dynamometer, measuring instrument note"]},"recognition":{"applicability":"required","items":["Instrument measuring weight or mass","Weighbridge, railway weighbridge, axle load scale, trebuchet balance, bathroom scale, bench scale","Balances compare masses; load cells are sensors inside scales; the trebuchet siege engine is a catapult, a different sense","Platforms, pans or bridges with a dial or digital readout showing weight."]},"capabilities":{"applicability":"required","items":["explain types and mechanisms","relay legal metrology","describe named types","relay accuracy factors"]},"hazards":{"applicability":"required","items":["Trade fraud from inaccurate scales","Calibration and levelling errors","Confusing the trebuchet senses"]},"interfaces":{"applicability":"required","items":["OIML recommendations for weighing instruments","Legal metrology verification for trade scales","ISO calibration standards"]},"context":{"applicability":"required","items":["Measuring weight or mass.","balance scales","spring scales","electronic load-cell scales","weighbridges"]}},"sources":[{"title":"Wikidata item Q134566: weighing scale","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q134566","note":"identity and sense of the item"},{"title":"Wikipedia: Weighing scale","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weighing_scale","note":"general description of the item"}],"openQuestions":["Should weighbridges be a separate entry?","How should legal metrology rules be linked?","Should the balance be a separate entry?"],"resources":{"spec":"/models/things/publications/thing-q134566/spec.json"},"provenance":{"origin":"thing registry research (pass 2)","builtFrom":["models/things/publications/thing-q134566/spec.json"],"providers":["Claude"],"researchStatus":"unreviewed","generatedAt":"2026-09-14T02:10:50Z","builder":"tools/build_cards.py@1.0.0"},"completeness":{"sections":{"classifiers":"filled","whatItIs":"filled","purpose":"filled","distinguishingFeatures":"filled","structure":"filled","agentConduct":"filled","ethics":"filled","owners":"filled","relations":"filled","interaction.identity":"filled","interaction.properties":"filled","interaction.recognition":"filled","interaction.capabilities":"filled","interaction.hazards":"filled","interaction.interfaces":"filled","interaction.context":"filled","sources":"filled"},"notes":{"_gate":"Published through the thing publication gate 1.0 on 2026-10-06T19:51:54+00:00: completeness 1.00; sense: Wikidata description; 2 live sources; review by codex: pass"},"score":1.0}}