Final answer:
To balance the seesaw, a 19.6 N weight must be placed 0.2 meters from the fulcrum on the left side, using the principle of moments (torque balance).
Step-by-step explanation:
To balance two weights using a lever or seesaw, the moments on either side of the fulcrum must be equal.
The moment is the product of the force and its distance from the fulcrum (Moment = Force x Distance).
Given a 19.6 N weight that needs to be placed on the left of a fulcrum to balance a 9.8 N weight placed 0.4 meters to the right, we can use the principle of moments, also known as the torque balance, to find the distance from the fulcrum we need to place the 19.6 N weight.
Let x be the unknown distance from the fulcrum where the 19.6 N weight will be placed.
According to the principle of moments:
19.6 N × x = 9.8 N × 0.4 m
Solving for x:
x = (9.8 N × 0.4 m) / 19.6 N
x = (3.92 N·m) / 19.6 N
x = 0.2 meters
Therefore, to balance the seesaw, the 19.6 N weight must be placed 0.2 meters from the fulcrum on the left side.