16

LESSON

Solving Lever Problems

One of the oldest machines known to humans is the lever. The principles of the lever are studied in physics. Most people are familiar with the simplest kind of lever, known as the seesaw or teeterboard, often seen in parks. The lever is a board placed on a fulcrum or point of support. On a seesaw, the fulcrum is in the center of the board. A child sits at either end of the board. If one child is heavier than the other child, he or she can sit closer to the center in order to balance the seesaw. This is the basic principle of the lever. In general, the weights are placed on the ends of the board, and the distance the weight is from the fulcrum is called the length or arm. The basic principle of the lever is that the weight times the length of the arm on the left side of the lever is equal to the weight times the length of the arm on the right side of the lever, or WL wl. See Figure 16-1.

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LESSON 16 Solving Lever Problems

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Fig. 16-1.

Given any of the three variables, you can set up an equation and solve for the fourth one. Unless otherwise specied, assume the fulcrum is in the center of the lever. EXAMPLE: Bill weighs 120 pounds and sits on a seesaw 3 feet from the fulcrum. Where must Mary, who weighs 96 pounds, sit to balance it? SOLUTION: GOAL: You are being asked to nd the distance from the fulcrum Mary needs to sit to balance the seesaw. STRATEGY: Use the formula WL wl where W 120, L 3, w 96, l x. WL wl 1203 96x See Figure 16-2. IMPLEMENTATION: Solve the equation: 1203 96x 360 96x

Fig. 16-2.

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360 96 x 1 96 96 3:75 x
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LESSON 16 Solving Lever Problems

Hence she must sit 3.75 feet from the fulcrum. EVALUATION: Check the equation: WL wl 1203 963:75 360 360 The fulcrum of a lever does not have to be at its center. EXAMPLE: The fulcrum of a lever is 3 feet from the end of a 10-foot lever. On the short end rests an 84-pound weight. How much weight must be placed on the other end to balance the lever? SOLUTION: GOAL: You are being asked to nd how much weight is needed to balance the lever. STRATEGY: Let x the weight of the object needed. WL wl 843 x7 See Figure 16-3.

Fig. 16-3.

LESSON 16 Solving Lever Problems

IMPLEMENTATION: Solve the equation: 843 7x 252 7x 252 71 x 1 7 7 36 x 36 pounds needs to be placed at the 7-foot end to balance the lever. EVALUATION: WL wl 843 367 252 252 EXAMPLE: Where should the fulcrum be placed on an 18-foot lever with a 36-pound weight on one end and a 64-pound weight on the other end? SOLUTION: GOAL: You are being asked to nd the placement of the fulcrum so that the lever is balanced. STRATEGY: Let x the length of the lever from the fulcrum to the 36-pound weight and (18 x) the length of the lever from the fulcrum to the 64-pound weight. See Figure 16-4. The equation is WL wl 36x 6418 x

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Fig. 16-4.

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LESSON 16 Solving Lever Problems

STRATEGY: Solve the equation: 36x 6418 x 36x 1152 64x 36x 64x 1152 64x 64x 100x 1152 1001 x 1152 100 1001 x 11:52 Hence the fulcrum must be placed 11.52 feet from the 36-pound weight. EVALUATION: Check the equation: WL wl 3611:52 6418 11:52 414:72 414:72 You can place 3 or more weights on a lever and it still can be balanced. If 4 weights are used, two on each side, the equation is W1 L1 W2 L2 w1 l1 w2 l2 EXAMPLE: On a 16-foot seesaw Fred, weighing 80 pounds, sits on one end. Next to Fred sits Bill, weighing 84 pounds. Bill is 4 feet from the fulcrum. On the other side at the end sits Pete, weighing 95 pounds. Where should Sam, weighing 75 pounds, sit in order to balance the seesaw? SOLUTION: GOAL: You are being asked to nd the distance from the fulcrum where Sam should sit in order to balance the seesaw. STRATEGY: Let x the distance from the fulcrum where Sam needs to sit. See Figure 16-5.

LESSON 16 Solving Lever Problems

177

Fig. 16-5.

The equation is W1 L1 W2 L2 w1 l1 w2 l2 808 844 958 75x 640 336 760 75x 976 760 75x 976 760 760 760 75x 216 75x 216 75 x 75 75 2:88 x Sam needs to sit 2.88 feet from the fulcrum. EVALUATION: Check the equation: W1 L1 W2 L2 w1 l1 w2 l2 808 844 958 752:88 640 336 760 216 976 976
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