Consider a seesaw with two children of masses m 1 and m 2 on either side. Suppose that the position of the fulcrum (pivot point) is labeled as the origin, x 5 0. Further suppose that the position of each child relative to the origin is x 1 and x 2 , respectively. The seesaw will be in equilibrium if m 1 x 1 + m 2 x 2 = 0. Use this equation for Exercises 55–58. Find x 2 so that the system of masses is in equilibrium. m 1 = 30 kg , x 1 = − 12 m and m 2 = 20 kg , x 2 = ?
Consider a seesaw with two children of masses m 1 and m 2 on either side. Suppose that the position of the fulcrum (pivot point) is labeled as the origin, x 5 0. Further suppose that the position of each child relative to the origin is x 1 and x 2 , respectively. The seesaw will be in equilibrium if m 1 x 1 + m 2 x 2 = 0. Use this equation for Exercises 55–58. Find x 2 so that the system of masses is in equilibrium. m 1 = 30 kg , x 1 = − 12 m and m 2 = 20 kg , x 2 = ?
Solution Summary: The author calculates the value of x_2 when the system of two children sitting on either side of a seesaw is in equilibrium.
Consider a seesaw with two children of masses
m
1
and
m
2
on either side. Suppose that the position of the fulcrum (pivot point) is labeled as the origin, x 5 0. Further suppose that the position of each child relative to the origin is
x
1
and
x
2
, respectively. The seesaw will be in equilibrium if
m
1
x
1
+
m
2
x
2
= 0. Use this equation for Exercises 55–58.
Find
x
2
so that the system of masses is in equilibrium.
m
1
=
30
kg
,
x
1
=
−
12
m
and
m
2
=
20
kg
,
x
2
=
?
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