Question

Three brothers Jordan (40 kg), Logan (25kg) and Carter (20 kg) are at the playground on the seesaw. Logan and Carter see this a being a great opportunity to get back at their older brother by trapping him at the peak of the seesaw. If the seesaw has a total length of 4 meters, the fulcrum is in the center, Jordan sits at one end and Logan sits at the opposite end, where must Carter sit to suspend Jordan in the air? Note: Round you answer to 1 decimal place. Do not include units.

Answer 1

Carter should sit 1.5 meters from the fulcrum on the side opposite Jordan to balance the seesaw by equalizing the moments around the fulcrum, applying the principle of levers.

Step-by-step explanation:

To solve the problem of where Carter must sit on the seesaw to suspend Jordan in the air, we need to apply the concept of balancing moments (or torques) around the fulcrum. The seesaw represents a simple lever with the fulcrum in the center.

Since moments are calculated by multiplying the force (weight of the brothers) by the distance from the pivot, we set up the equation: (Jordan's weight x Jordan's distance from the fulcrum) = (Logan's weight x Logan's distance from the fulcrum + Carter's weight x Carter's distance from the fulcrum).

With Jordan sitting at one end, his distance from the fulcrum is 2.0 meters (half the length of the seesaw). Logan is at the opposite end, also 2.0 meters from the fulcrum. The equation simplifies to 40 kg x 2.0 m = 25 kg x 2.0 m + 20 kg x Carter's distance. We can solve for Carter's distance.

Doing the math, 80 = 50 + 20 x Carter's distance, which simplifies to 30 = 20 x Carter's distance, and thus Carter's distance = 1.5.

Therefore, Carter should sit 1.5 meters from the fulcrum on the side opposite Jordan to balance the seesaw.