Calculating Center of Mass of a Car: Step-by-Step Guide

[kaylanp01]

Homework Statement

To determine the location of the center of mass of a car, the car is driven over a scale. When the front wheels are over the scale, the weight recorded by the scale is 5.05 x 103 N. When the rear wheels are over the scale, the scale reads 6.20 x 103 N. The distance between the front and rear wheels is 3.58 m. How far behind the front wheels is the center of mass located?

Homework Equations

Ahh I did it using that math that we used in lower level high school. haha. Thought I might get lucky.

I missed these classes in physics, so I'm trying to figure it out and have no idea where to start.

The Attempt at a Solution

I did:
x + y = 3.58
5050x + 6200y = 112500 (because the weight of the car is equal to the sum of the weight measured on the front wheel and the weight measured on the rear wheel).
Solved for x, subbed it in, got the wroong answer. aha.

 

[LowlyPion]

Maybe if you had thought of the see-saw?

Won't it be more like 5*x = 6.2(3.58 - x) ?

 

[kaylanp01]

Maybe if you had thought of the see-saw?

Won't it be more like 5*x = 6.2(3.58 - x) ?

Sorry...I'm not following. Where did the 5 come from?

 

[LowlyPion]

OK. 5.05 if you prefer.

 

[kaylanp01]

OK. 5.05 if you prefer.

oooh. hahah sorry. its exam week, I'm feeling a bit slow. so your formulas are actually x + y = 3.58 and then 5x = 6y. I understand, thank you :).

 

[LowlyPion]

oooh. hahah sorry. its exam week, I'm feeling a bit slow. so your formulas are actually x + y = 3.58 and then 5x = 6y. I understand, thank you :).

Basically, yes.

Where did your 6 come from then?

JK.

Cheers.

 

[kaylanp01]

Basically, yes.

Where did your 6 come from then?

JK.

Cheers.

hahah now now, be nice.