A body weighing 500N is sitting on a seesaw at a point 2m away from the pivot what should the pivot at a point 4m away to balance the pivot
To balance the seesaw, the clockwise torque (moment) on one side of the pivot should be equal to the counterclockwise torque (moment) on the other side.
Torque (moment) can be calculated by multiplying the force with the distance from the pivot.
Let's calculate the torque (moment) on each side of the pivot separately:
For the body weighing 500N at a point 2m away from the pivot:
Torque (moment) = Force × Distance
= 500N × 2m
= 1000 N·m (clockwise)
Now, let's assume the pivot is placed at a point 4m away from the body:
For the body weighing 500N at a point 4m away from the pivot:
Torque (moment) = Force × Distance
= 500N × 4m
= 2000 N·m (counterclockwise)
To balance the pivot, the clockwise torque should be equal to the counterclockwise torque. Therefore, the pivot should be placed at a point 4m away from the body.
To balance the pivot, the total clockwise moment (torque) must be equal to the total anticlockwise moment (torque).
Given:
Weight of the body = 500 N
Distance from the weight to the pivot = 2 m
Distance from pivot to be determined = 4 m
First, let's calculate the moment (torque) created by the weight of the body:
Moment (torque) = Weight × Distance
Moment (torque) = 500 N × 2 m
Moment (torque) = 1000 Nm (clockwise)
To balance the seesaw, the pivot must create an equal but opposite moment (torque) acting in the anticlockwise direction.
Moment (torque) = Weight × Distance
1000 Nm (clockwise) = Weight × Distance (to be determined)
Since the weight (500 N) remains the same, we can rearrange the equation to find the distance from the pivot:
Distance = Moment (torque) / Weight
Distance = 1000 Nm / 500 N
Distance = 2 m
Therefore, the pivot should be placed 2 meters away from the weight to balance the seesaw.
I assume you erred in typing the problem.
summing moments about the piviot
500*2-W*4=0
solve for the force W at the point