A meter stick is balanced at the 50.0-cm mark. You tie a 10.0-N weight at the 15.0-cm mark. Where should a 30.0-N weight be placed so the meter stick will again be balanced?

1 Answer
SCooke
May 30, 2017

61.7 cm mark

Explanation:

The force is a function of the mass and the distance from the balance point (center of mass). So, with a 10.0N mass at the 15.0 cm mark, it is (50-15) = 35 cm from one side of the balance point. Thus, a 30.0N mass must be placed:

#(10N)/(30N) * 35cm = 11.7#cm on the other side of the balance point
- the (50 + 11.7) = 61.7 cm mark.

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