Question

a see-saw consists of a pivot and a heavy (24 kg) uniform plank which is 4.5 m long. a 12kg box is placed at one end of the plank. how far from the other end should the pivot be so that the plank is balanced?

Answer 1

To balance the seesaw, the torques on both sides of the pivot must be equal. By setting the torques equal to each other, you can solve for the distance where the pivot should be placed.

Step-by-step explanation:

To balance the seesaw, the torques on both sides of the pivot must be equal. The torque is calculated by multiplying the weight of an object by its distance from the pivot. In this case, the weight of the box on one side is 12 kg and its distance from the pivot is x. The weight of the plank on the other side is 24 kg and its distance from the pivot is 4.5 - x. By setting the torques equal to each other, you can solve for x:

(12 kg)(x) = (24 kg)(4.5 - x)

Solving this equation will give you the distance from the other end where the pivot should be placed so that the plank is balanced.