What is the difference in lever arms between two people on a seesaw?

  • Thread starter Thread starter xlaserx7
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Torque
AI Thread Summary
On a seesaw with two people of different weights, the lever arms are inversely proportional to their weights when the seesaw is balanced. If one person is heavier, their lever arm must be shorter to maintain equilibrium. Specifically, if one person weighs twice as much, their distance from the pivot must be half that of the lighter person. This relationship ensures that the moments around the pivot remain equal, allowing the seesaw to stay stationary. Understanding this principle is crucial for grasping the mechanics of balance in seesaw dynamics.
xlaserx7
Messages
13
Reaction score
0
Two people of different weights are sitting on a seesaw. The seesaw is not rotating. How would the lever arm of the heavier person compare with the lever arm of the lighter person?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
If the seesaw is free to rotate, the length of the lever arms are inversely proportional to the weight of the people. In other words, if one person weighs twice as much, their side of the seesaw has to be half as long from their centre of gravity to the pivot of the seesaw as the other person's in order to remain balanced.
 
Thread 'Collision of a bullet on a rod-string system: query'
In this question, I have a question. I am NOT trying to solve it, but it is just a conceptual question. Consider the point on the rod, which connects the string and the rod. My question: just before and after the collision, is ANGULAR momentum CONSERVED about this point? Lets call the point which connects the string and rod as P. Why am I asking this? : it is clear from the scenario that the point of concern, which connects the string and the rod, moves in a circular path due to the string...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanged mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...

Similar threads

Replies
22
Views
3K
Replies
7
Views
10K
Replies
5
Views
3K
Replies
9
Views
1K
Replies
18
Views
2K
Replies
12
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
3K
Replies
11
Views
2K
Back
Top