Question

1. two children are playing on a seesaw trying to balance. if the child on the left sits 2 meters away from the fulcrum and weighs 40 kg, and the child on the right weighs 32 kg, how far away from the pivot point will the child on the right have to sit?

o 2.75 m
o 1.5 m
o 3 m
o 2.5 m

Explanation:

Step1: Recall the principle of moments

For a balanced seesaw, the principle of moments states that the product of the weight and the distance from the fulcrum on one - side is equal to the product of the weight and the distance from the fulcrum on the other side. Let the distance of the child on the left from the fulcrum be $d_1$, the weight of the child on the left be $w_1$, the distance of the child on the right from the fulcrum be $d_2$, and the weight of the child on the right be $w_2$. Then $w_1\times d_1=w_2\times d_2$.

Step2: Substitute the given values

We are given that $w_1 = 40$ kg, $d_1=2$ m, and $w_2 = 32$ kg. We need to find $d_2$. Rearranging the formula $w_1\times d_1=w_2\times d_2$ for $d_2$, we get $d_2=\frac{w_1\times d_1}{w_2}$.
Substitute $w_1 = 40$, $d_1 = 2$, and $w_2 = 32$ into the formula: $d_2=\frac{40\times2}{32}$.

Step3: Calculate the value of $d_2$

$40\times2 = 80$, and $\frac{80}{32}=2.5$ m.

Answer:

$2.5$ m