Question

Imagine there is another mass m₂ to the right of the pivot at a distance of 0.2 m. The seesaw is horizontal and in equilibrium. Calculate the mass of m₂.

Answer 1

To calculate the mass of m₂ for seesaw equilibrium, apply the principle of moments with the known distances and masses. The mass m₂ needed to balance the seesaw at 0.2 m from the pivot is found to be 34 kg.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the mass of m₂ when a seesaw is in equilibrium, we apply the principle of moments, which states that for the seesaw to be balanced, the clockwise moments must equal the anticlockwise moments.

To find m₂, we use the given example where two children of mass 20 kg and 30 kg are balanced on a seesaw separated by a distance of 3 m. It has been established from the example that the 30 kg child is seated 1.30 m from the pivot.

Since the distance from the pivot to the 30 kg child (r1 = 1.30 m) and the total seesaw length is given (3 m), the distance from the pivot to the 20 kg child is 3 m - 1.30 m, equal to 1.70 m.

Using the principle of moments:

• 20 kg × 1.70 m = m₂ × 0.20 m

Now we can solve for m₂:

• m₂ = (20 kg × 1.70 m) / 0.20 m
• m₂ = 34 kg

Therefore, the mass m₂ required to keep the seesaw in equilibrium at a distance of 0.2 m from the pivot is 34 kg.