How would you weigh a plane without scales?

Answer by  Binome (1975)

Assuming the plane floats, you can put it in a massive water tank. If it floats, it will displace its weight in water. Once cubic centimeter of water weighs one gram, so the volume of displacement can be used to calculate the weight of the plane. If it sinks, all you can measure is the plane's volume.

Answer by  q2003 (15)

The manufacturer(s) of each piece of the plane would probably know the weight of that piece. So, I would track down the manufacturer's weight of every item in the plane and add it all up. Even the company that makes the screws would know the average weight of one screw.

Answer by  mammakat (11147)

You would either have to break down the component parts and add them back up, or use displacement which gets into heavy-duty physics, I would suggest the former. However if you are talking about a plane, ie airplane, I would take the manufacturers specs, add in customization, allow for load,factor in a plus/minus and go from there.

Answer by  TMATM (499)

A computer in the planes is programed with the base wieght. Sensors in the landing gear tell the computer how much additional weight is added by fuel, cargo and passengers.