Mass Loss Measurements
Mass Loss Measurements - Related Videos
08:00
Measuring Mass in the Laboratory
0 Views •
2023
The analytical balance is the common piece of equipment in the scientific laboratory. These highly precise instruments can measure down to ten thousandths or even hundred thousandths of a gram. The triple beam balance is a type of scale that uses counterweights on a three rider beams to counterbalance the sample in the pan. On the other hand, modern analytical balances use a complex system of electronic sensors to accurately mass a substance. The analytical balance is so sensitive that it...
13:35
Mass Conservation and Flow Rate Measurements
0 Views •
2023
Source: Ricardo Mejia-Alvarez and Hussam Hikmat Jabbar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI The purpose of this experiment is to demonstrate the calibration of a flow passage as a flowmeter using a control volume (CV) formulation [1, 2]. The CV analysis focuses on the macroscopic effect of flow on engineering systems, rather than the detailed description that could be achieved with a detailed differential analysis. These two techniques should be...
12:27
Piping Networks and Pressure Losses
0 Views •
2023
Source: Alexander S Rattner, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA This experiment introduces the measurement and modeling of pressure losses in piping networks and internal flow systems. In such systems, frictional flow resistance from channel walls, fittings, and obstructions causes mechanical energy in the form of fluid pressure to be converted to heat. Engineering analyses are needed to size flow hardware to ensure...
01:10
Line Loss
0 Views •
2024
The different configurations of source-load connections include wye (star) and delta connections. The relationship between line and phase voltages and currents varies depending on the configuration. When the source is supplying power, it is transmitted through the wires to the load, and during this transmission, some power is absorbed by the wires, leading to line loss. Line loss impacts power delivery efficiency in a balanced three-phase circuit. The symmetry in such a circuit simplifies the...
04:55
Using a Thermal Camera to Measure Heat Loss Through Bird Feather Coats
0 Views •
Cited by 5 •
2020
This protocol describes the quantification of heat transmission through a flat skinned avian specimen using a thermal camera and hot water bath. The method allows obtaining of quantitative, comparative data about the thermal performance of feather coats across species using dried flat skin specimens.
FAQs
A decrease in mass does not by itself identify the underlying process. Evaporation and water exchange can reduce measured mass without equivalent loss of biological material, whereas consumption, decomposition, or respiration-related substrate use may indicate different biological changes. Interpreting the result therefore requires linking the mass change to the experimental conditions and the material being measured.
Temperature, humidity, and timing influence how much mass changes during an experiment, especially when water can evaporate or move between the sample and its surroundings. Holding these conditions consistent makes initial-to-final comparisons more meaningful. It also helps researchers determine whether differences between samples reflect biology rather than unequal exposure to environmental conditions.
Water exchange can alter a sample’s mass even when its biological constituents have not been consumed, decomposed, or otherwise lost. Conversely, a biological process may reduce mass through substrate use or decomposition. Tracking this possibility prevents researchers from assigning every measured decrease to a single mechanism and supports more accurate interpretation in physiological and ecological studies.
A basic workflow begins by weighing the organism, tissue, sample, or biological material and recording the starting value. Researchers maintain the intended conditions for a defined period, weigh the material again at the endpoint, and compare the two measurements. Consistent timing and weighing procedures are essential because procedural variation can obscure the biological change being assessed.
The approach can support studies of dehydration, respiration-related substrate use, decomposition, feeding, and growth-related change. Its usefulness extends across ecology, physiology, microbiology, and laboratory experiments because the same gravimetric comparison can be linked to different biological processes. The measured outcome is most informative when researchers identify which process the experimental design is intended to capture.
The difference between initial and final values provides an outcome measure for physical or physiological change over the chosen interval. Its meaning depends on the sample and context: a decrease may relate to dehydration, consumption, decomposition, or substrate use. Mass change is therefore most useful as a comparative indicator interpreted alongside the conditions and biological process under study.