Jolly balance, an entirely obsolete equipment used to determine the specific gravity (relative density) of

solids and liquids. It was invented in the nineteenth century by the German scientist Philipp von Jolly
and typically consists of a long, fragile helical spring held by one end in front of a graded scale. A weight
pan and a tiny wire basket holding samples are affixed to the spring's bottom end. The difference in
spring extension when the sample is suspended in air and in water indicates the weight loss in water;
the weight in air divided by the weight loss in water yields the specific gravity.