The most common test result that the machine gives is the absorbed energy. This is taken as the difference between the amount of available energy in the striker immediately prior to impact and the energy remaining after breaking the sample after correction for windage and friction losses.

The amount of available energy prior to impact is the amount of potential energy in the pendulum at its starting / latched position. The amount of energy remaining after the sample break is measured by recording the height of the pendulum swing after it has broken the sample. Typically, a pointer and analog scale will allow a direct, corrected, measurement of absorbed energy.

All commercial acceptance testing must report the following information:

1. Specimen type
2. Test temperature
3. Absorbed energy and
4. Other contractual requirements.

1. Lateral expansion
2. Unbroken specimens
3. Fracture appearance
4. Specimen orientation
5. Specimen location