Question

Suzie is 2 meters away from the center of a see saw and she weighs 400 N. Where on the other side would Timmy, who weighs 800 N, have to sit on the see saw for it to be balanced?

Answer 1

Answer:

Timmy is 1 meters away from the center.

Explanation:

Given:

Distance of Suzie from center = 2 m

Weight of Suzie = 400 N

Weight of Timmy = 800 N

The see saw is balanced

To find the distance of Timmy from the center.

Solution:

Since the see saw is balanced,

So, the sum of clockwise moment = Sum of anticlockwise moments

Moment is given by:

⇒ $Force\times Perpendicular\ distance\ from\ the\ center$

Let Suzies have moment in clockwise direction.

Moment of Suzie would be = $400\ N \times 2\ m= 800\ Nm$

Timmy would have moment in anticlockwise direction.

Let Timmy be $l$ meters away from center

Moment of Timmy would be = $800\ N\times l\ m=800l\ Nm$

Since, the see saw is balanced, the system is in equilibrium.

Thus, we have,

Anticlockwise Moment = Clockwise moment

$800l=800$

Dividing both sides by 800.

$\frac{800l}{800}=\frac{800}{800}$

$l=1\ m$

Thus, Timmy is 1 meters away from the center.