Person A, weighing 35 kg, is sitting 10m away from a seesaw pivot. Person B, weighing 50 kg, it sitting at the other end, at a distance d. Calculate d, in order for the seesaw not to topple over. (g=10m/s^2)

Force@A: FA = mA x g = 35 x 10 = 350NAnticlockwise moment: MA = FA x dA= 350 x 10 = 3500NmForce @B: FB=mb x g = 50 x 10 = 500NClockwise moment: Mc= FB x dBFor the seesaw to be in equilibrium, MA=Mc (1)But Mc= FBx dB (2)(1), (2) => MA = FBx dB => dB= MA/FB = 3500/500 =7m

AA
Answered by Antonia A. Physics tutor

2180 Views

See similar Physics GCSE tutors

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Matt weighs 60kg and his son, Rob weighs 30kg. They both run a 100m race and finish the race running at 5m/s. Who has more Kinetic Energy at the end of the race?


What's the difference between velocity and speed?


A boy with a mass of 50kg is sitting on a seesaw. He is sitting 2m from the pivot. He has a friend who weighs 40kg, how far away from the pivot must she sit to balance the seesaw? (gravitational accelleration (g) = 10m/s2)


Imagine a probe in space. Argon gas can be fired from the probes fuel tanks to propel the probe. Discuss whether conservation of momentum applies and whether the speed of the probe increases.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning