In a typical load cell application, mass is not measured directly, but rather through a series such as: mass - weight - stress - strain - ΔR - Δi - etc. Similarly, we can measure mass with a capacitance device through the series: mass - volume and dielectric constant - ΔC - Δi - etc. Both measurements require calibration and, indeed, this calibration can be identical in concept. That is, mass can be added incrementally while recording the output.

This paper presents a survey of the ways in which capacitance measurements may be employed in weight engineering - specifically measurements of density, level, and mass. Only liquid measurements will be discussed here, although any fluid and, in special cases, solids, may be treated similarly.