Two children with masses of 24 and 31 kg are sitting on a balanced seesaw. If the lighter child is sitting 3 m from the center, where is the heavier child sitting?
the heavier child has to be closer to the center , not farther away
(24 kg) * (3 m) = (31 kg) * (x m)
That is correct.
Tcw=Tccw
Fsind=Fsind
(24kg)(3m)=(31kg)(x)
Gravity (g) on both sides of equation and cancel.
Solve for x:
72=31x
72/31=x
X=2.3m
To determine the position of the heavier child on the seesaw, we need to consider the principle of moments, also known as the law of the lever. According to this principle, the total anticlockwise moment about a fulcrum (pivot point) is equal to the total clockwise moment.
In this case, we have two children on the seesaw, and the seesaw is balanced. The moment of each child is given by the product of their mass and their distance from the fulcrum. Let's call the distance of the lighter child from the fulcrum "x" (given as 3 m), and the distance of the heavier child from the fulcrum "y" (what we need to find).
The moment of the lighter child is: Moment_lighter = Mass_lighter × Distance_lighter
The moment of the heavier child is: Moment_heavier = Mass_heavier × Distance_heavier
Since the seesaw is balanced, the total anticlockwise moment is equal to the total clockwise moment, so:
Moment_lighter = Moment_heavier
Mass_lighter × Distance_lighter = Mass_heavier × Distance_heavier
Plugging in the given information:
24 kg × 3 m = 31 kg × y
Now we can solve for y:
72 kg·m = 31 kg × y
y = (72 kg·m) / (31 kg)
y ≈ 2.32 m
Therefore, the heavier child is sitting approximately 2.32 meters from the center of the seesaw.
Tcw=Tccw
Fsind=Fsind
(24kg)(3m)=(31kg)(x-3)
Gravity (g) on both sides of equation and cancel.
Solve for x:
72=31x-39
111=31x
X=3.6m