Question

Two children of mass 19 kg and 33 kg sit balanced on a seesaw with the pivot point located at the center of the seesaw. show answer No Attempt If the children are separated by a distance of 3.0 m, at what distance, in meters, from the pivot point is the smaller child sitting in order to maintain the balance?

Answer 1

1 47/52 m ≈ 1.904 m

Explanation:

Let x represent the distance from the pivot to the smaller child. Then x-3 will be the distance to the larger child. The sum of moments about the origin (pivot point) will be zero:

19x +33(x-3) = 0

52x = 99 . . . . . . . eliminate parentheses, add 99

x = 99/52 = 1 47/52

The smaller child is sitting 1 47/52 meters from the pivot point, about 1.904 m.