A mass may be measured by a scale with a fulcrum, such as this:
The equation M1 × a = M2 × b can also be stated as:
M1 : b = M2 : a
which can then be inverted as
b : M1 = a : M2
If the mass of M1 is a standard mass such as a kilogram, then the gravitational mass of M2 can be determined from the law of the lever as follows:
M2 = M1 × a : b.
Such a scale can also be used to measure the inverse mass, 1/M2, which I’m calling the vass, L2:
L2 = 1/M2 = b : (M1 × a) = L1 × b : a
or
a × L2 = b × L1
The mass and the vass are related properties of a physical body. They can be measured together. The scale for vass is the inverse of the scale for mass: the scale for minimum to maximum mass corresponds to the scale for maximum to minimum vass.
