counterpoised beam balance

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counterpoised beam balance (Walker's steelyard) A long, graduated, horizontal beam which is pivoted near one end on a vertical shaft, permitting the beam (arm) to swing freely. It is used to weigh objects, by attaching them to the short end of the arm and balancing their weights with counter-weights which can be moved along the graduated arm, and it can also be used to determine the densities of minerals.