A meter stick is balanced horizontally on a pivot attached at the 50-cm mark. A

Question

A meter stick is balanced horizontally on a pivot attached at the 50-cm mark. A 300-gram mass is attached to the right half of the meter stick 30 cm from the pivot point and it swings down.You wish to rebalance the meter stick horizontally with a 450-gram mass. How far from the center of the meter stick must you attach the 450-gram mass to achieve this? If your answer is to the right of the pivot point, express the distance as a positive number. If your answer is to the left of the pivot point, express the distance as a negative number.

d= ? cm.

Explanation / Answer

Meter stick would be balanced when the torque acting on both sides is same or when the torque is zero
therefore 450 gm mass would be attached at the left side
let us assume that it is attached at a distance of x m from the pivot then

torque = force x distance
therefore balancing torque

450x = (300)(30)
therefore
x = -20 cm

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