Help meh, math equation for a weight chart [Archive] - Wizards Community

Help meh, math equation for a weight chart [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
dwMacabre
10-26-05, 04:38 AM Hi, im new here, ive been looking at the boards for quite some time though.

Anways, im making a game from scratch and im having trouble figuring out how to figure out something. Can anyone tell me how to make a simple math equation/small chart to figure out an object's weight by knowing only its density and measurements?

An answer to this would help me figure out the weight of random objects of any type, like how much would a man sized solid statue of meat weigh, or one made of iron. I've looked in many a D&D books but find nothing to answer me.

I know alot of smart people are here and would appreciate the help.
Elgonn
10-26-05, 04:58 AM Try this (http://www.tesarta.com/www/resources/library/weights.html).
dwMacabre
10-26-05, 05:21 AM hrm, that seems usefull, but i can barely understand it :P can anyone break that down for me into something simpler?
Mr.Waesel
10-26-05, 07:41 AM Weight equals density times volume times acceleration towards the scale that is used to measure said weight. (if you're just measuring normally "on earth", take 9.81 m s^-2 or 10 m s^-2 for the acceleration.)

edit: the volume is only easily calculable for simple geometric shapes, so you'll have to estimate for complicated shapes like statues. Densities can be found in the link posted by Elgonn (under "specific gravity").
Millennium
10-26-05, 08:53 AM Calculating the volume of an object which isn't a simple shape can be difficult, but it is still possible to measure its volume. Get a known quantity of a liquid (water works fine) and measure its volume. Then completely immerse the object you want to measure in the water, and measure the volume of the water plus the object. Subtract the volume of only the water, and you have the volume of the object.

Of course, this only works if you actually have the object on hand, as well as enough water to completely submerge it and a device capable of measuring that much water. For almost anything in the game world, you'll have to estimate unless you have some real-world object which is very similar to it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
dwMacabre 10-26-05, 04:38 AM	Hi, im new here, ive been looking at the boards for quite some time though. Anways, im making a game from scratch and im having trouble figuring out how to figure out something. Can anyone tell me how to make a simple math equation/small chart to figure out an object's weight by knowing only its density and measurements? An answer to this would help me figure out the weight of random objects of any type, like how much would a man sized solid statue of meat weigh, or one made of iron. I've looked in many a D&D books but find nothing to answer me. I know alot of smart people are here and would appreciate the help.
Elgonn 10-26-05, 04:58 AM	Try this (http://www.tesarta.com/www/resources/library/weights.html).
dwMacabre 10-26-05, 05:21 AM	hrm, that seems usefull, but i can barely understand it :P can anyone break that down for me into something simpler?
Mr.Waesel 10-26-05, 07:41 AM	Weight equals density times volume times acceleration towards the scale that is used to measure said weight. (if you're just measuring normally "on earth", take 9.81 m s^-2 or 10 m s^-2 for the acceleration.) edit: the volume is only easily calculable for simple geometric shapes, so you'll have to estimate for complicated shapes like statues. Densities can be found in the link posted by Elgonn (under "specific gravity").
Millennium 10-26-05, 08:53 AM	Calculating the volume of an object which isn't a simple shape can be difficult, but it is still possible to measure its volume. Get a known quantity of a liquid (water works fine) and measure its volume. Then completely immerse the object you want to measure in the water, and measure the volume of the water plus the object. Subtract the volume of only the water, and you have the volume of the object. Of course, this only works if you actually have the object on hand, as well as enough water to completely submerge it and a device capable of measuring that much water. For almost anything in the game world, you'll have to estimate unless you have some real-world object which is very similar to it.