Laboratory Activity 8

Keeping in Balance

Group No:
Name: 1. Pliego, Aeriel May L. Section: BSSCIED 2B
2. Ycoy, Doredell
3.

Objective:
1. To determine the relationship between masses and distance from the
fulcrum for a balanced seesaw.
2. To use the principle of balanced torques to find the value of an unknown
mass.

Introduction:
An object at rest is in equilibrium. The sum of the forces exerted on it is zero.
The resting object also shows another aspect of equilibrium, the object has no
rotation – sum of the torques exerted on it is zero. When a force causes an object to
start turning or rotating, a nonzero net torque is present.
The seesaw is a simple mechanical device that rotates about a pivot or
fulcrum. It is a type of lever. Remember that gravity pulls on every part of an object.
The whole weight of the object is effectively concentrated at its center of gravity.

Part A
1. Click the link
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/balancing-act/latest/balancing-
act_en.html to start the simulation.
2. Select Balance Lab. You may remove the barriers.
3. Place 20 kg mass 1 meter from the fulcrum. Place a 10 kg mass on the opposite
side of the fulcrum at the point that balances the meterstick.
4. Record the masses and distances from the fulcrum in Table A.
5. Make more trials using different masses and distances.

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 Table A
Trial Large Mass Distance from the Small Mass Distance from the
Fulcrum Fulcrum
1 20 kg 1m 10 kg 2m
2 15 kg 1m 10 kg 1.5 m
3 10 kg 0.75 m 5 kg 1.5 m
4 20 kg 0.75 m 15 kg 1m
5 20 kg 0.5 m 10 kg 1m
6 60 kg 1m 30 kg 2m
7 80 kg 0.5 m 20 kg 2m
8 30 kg 1m 20 kg 1.5 m
9 30 kg 1m 15 kg 2m
10 30 kg 0.5 m 15 kg 1m

 Can a heavier mass be balanced by a lighter one? Explain.

Yes, a heavy mass on one side can be balanced by a lighter mass on
the other side if the lighter mass is located at a greater distance from
the fulcrum.

6. Use any method you can devise to discover a pattern in the data of Table A.
You can try graphing the large mass vs. its distance from the fulcrum, the
small mass vs. its distance from the fulcrum, or another pair variables. You
can also try forming ratios or products.

Large Mass vs. Distance from Small Mass vs. Distance from
the Fulcrum the Fulcrum

2 2
1.75 1.75
1.5 1.5
1.25 1.25
Trial 1 Trial 1
1 1
Trial 2 Trial 2
0.75 Trial 3 0.75 Trial 3
0.5 0.5
0.25 0.25
0 0
10 kg 15 kg 20 kg 30 kg 60 kg 80 kg 5 kg 10 kg 15 kg 20 kg 30 kg

7. After you have discovered a pattern, convert this pattern into a word.

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 According to the discovered pattern, we can clearly see that small
masses have the greater distance when compared to the large masses.
The highest distance that the small mass has reached is 2meters
while compared to the large mass which only reached 1 meter. So we
can conclude that in order to balance the meter stick, the smaller
mass should have greater distance from the fulcrum.

8. Now convert this word statement into mathematical equation. Be sure to

explain each symbol stands for.
In order to balance the meter stick, we must use the equation which
is:

m1 x d1 = m2 x d2, where in m is Mass and d is Distance (from the

fulcrum).

F1= m1 x d1 F2 = m2 x d2

= 20 kg x 1 m = 10 kg x 2 m

= 20 N = 20 N

 If you are playing a seesaw with your younger sister (who weights much less
that you), what can you do to balance the seesaw? Mention at least two
things.
(1) Since my younger sister weighs much less than me, she must sit
in a position where in there’s a greater distance from the fulcrum.
(2) I’ll put an extra weight on her since she weighs much less than
me.

Part B

1. Place an unknown mass at 1 m mark of the meterstick. At the other side place
a known mass to balance the meterstick. Record the mass and its position.
Note that lever arm is the distance from the fulcrum to the place where the
force acts.
2. Write an equation for balanced torques, first in words and then with the
known values.
3. Compute the unknown mass in the last column in Table B.
4. Make more trials using different mystery objects and distances.

Table B
Trial Mystery Distance Known Distance Equation Solution

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 Object from the Mass from the (words and
Fulcrum Fulcrum known values)
1 A 1m 20 kg 1m 1 m distance 20 kg ÷ 1 m x 1
from the = 20 kg
fulcrum with
unknown
mass = 1 m
distance from
the fulcrum
with 20 kg
mass.
2 B 1.5 m 30 kg 0.25 m 1.5 m distance 30 kg ÷ 0.25 m x 1.5 m
from the = 180 kg
fulcrum with
unknown mass
= 0.25 m
distance from
the fulcrum
with 30 kg
mass.
3 C 1m 60 kg 0.25 m 1 m distance 60 kg ÷ 0.25 m x 1 m
from the = 240 kg
fulcrum with
unknown
mass = 0.25 m
distance from
the fulcrum
with 60 kg
mass
4 D 2 80 kg 0.25 m 2m distance 80 kg ÷ 0.25 m x 2 m
from the = 640 kg
fulcrum with
unknown
mass 0.25 m
distance from
the fulcrum
with 80 kg
mass.
5 E 1.25 m 15 kg 0.25 m 1.25 m 15 kg ÷ 0.25 m x 1.25 m
distance from = 75 kg
the fulcrum
with
unknown
mass = 0.25 m
distance from
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 the fulcrum
with 15 kg
mass.
6 F 2m 80 kg 1.25 m 2 m distance 80 kg ÷ 1.25 m x 2 m
from the = 128 kg
fulcrum with
unknown
mass 1.25 m
distance from
the fulcrum
with 80 kg
mass.
7 G 1m 20 kg 1.25 m 1 m distance 20 kg ÷ 1.25 m x 1 m
from the = 16 kg
fulcrum with
unknown
mass = 1.25 m
distance from
the fulcrum
with 20 kg
mass.
8 H 2m 30 kg 0.5 m 2 m distance 30 kg ÷ 0.5 m x 2 m
from the = 120 kg
fulcrum with
unknown
mass = 0.5 m
distance
fulcrum with
30 kg mass.

Conclusion:
Based on our observations and knowledge in this exercise, a large weight on one side
can be balanced by a lower weight on the other side if the lighter weight is situated at a
greater distance from the fulcrum. And because the weight and distance from the fulcrum
are inversely related, if one side's weight is double that of the other, it will balance at half the
distance from the fulcrum. We may conclude from this laboratory experiment that even if
two objects have different masses, they can be balanced. When balancing a large object and a
smaller one, we learnt that the distance from the fulcrum must be taken into account. The
larger object must be closer to the fulcrum, while the smaller one must be farther away, in
order for both to be balanced. These lessons are apparent in our everyday lives, such as
when we use seesaws.

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