The mass of the student on the left side of the teeter totter is 43.68 kg
<h3>Law of moments</h3>
Since the teeter totter is in equilibrium, the sum of moments about its center of mass is zero. That is, the clockwise moment, M = anticlockwise moments, M'
Taking moments of the students weight about the center, we have
m₁gx₁ = m₂gx₂ where
- m₁ = mass of student on left,
- x₁ = distance of student on left from center = 1.1 m,
- m₂ = mass of student on right,
- x₂ = distance of student on right from center = 1.4 m and
- g = acceleration due to gravity.
m₁x₁ = m₂x₂
Given that their total mass is 78 kg, we have that m₁ + m₂ = 78.
So, m₂ = 78 - m₁
Substituting m₂ into the equation, we have
m₁x₁ = m₂x₂
m₁x₁ = (78 - m₁)x₂
Making m₁ subject of the formula, we have
m₁x₁ = 78x₂ - m₁x₂
m₁x₁ + m₁x₂ = 78x₂
m₁(x₁ + x₂) = 78x₂
m₁ = 78x₂/(x₁ + x₂)
<h3>Mass of student of left side of teeter totter</h3>
Substituting the values of the variables into the equation, we have
m₁ = 78x₂/(x₁ + x₂)
m₁ = 78 × 1.4 m/(1.1 m + 1.4 m)
m₁ = 109.2 kgm/2.5 m
m₁ = 43.68 kg
So, the mass of the student on the left side of the teeter totter is 43.68 kg
Learn more about moments here:
brainly.com/question/14303536