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A schoolyard teeter-totter with a total length of 5.2 m
Chapter 11, Problem 28P(choose chapter or problem)
Problem 28P
A schoolyard teeter-totter with a total length of 5.2 m and a mass of 38 kg is pivoted at its center. A 19-kg child sits on one end of the teeter-totter. (a) Where should a parent push vertically downward with a force of 210 N in order to hold the teeter-totter level? (b) Where should the parent push with a force of 310 N? (c) How would your answers to parts (a) and (b) change if the mass of the teeter-totter were doubled? Explain.
Questions & Answers
QUESTION:
Problem 28P
A schoolyard teeter-totter with a total length of 5.2 m and a mass of 38 kg is pivoted at its center. A 19-kg child sits on one end of the teeter-totter. (a) Where should a parent push vertically downward with a force of 210 N in order to hold the teeter-totter level? (b) Where should the parent push with a force of 310 N? (c) How would your answers to parts (a) and (b) change if the mass of the teeter-totter were doubled? Explain.
ANSWER:
Step 1 of 4
Part (a)
A child is sitting at the edge of a teeter-totter. The child’s parent pushes the teeter-totter vertically downwards with a force and balance the kid. We are going to find the distance from the center of the teeter-totter the parent applies the force.
The mass of the child m = 19 kg
The mass of the teeter-totter M = 38 kg
The length of the teeter-totter 2L = 5.2 m
The acceleration due to gravity g = 9.81 m/s2
The applied force F = 210 N