The simulator acts like a see-saw. Objects with different masses at different positions make it tip one way or the other. There are also several different ways to keep it level. One is to put two of the same sized masses at the same displacements from the center of the simulator in opposite directions. Another is to put one mass at one position on one side of the simulator, and another mass that is two times greater at a position one half of the other's position on the other side. It also works if you have a mass of 1 at a position of 3 on one side, and a mass of 3 at a position of 1 on the other side. There are many other combinations that work to keep it level as well. But if the mass is larger than another mass and is more towards to end of the see-saw than another mass, then it will tip to the greater mass side.
The simulator is like a scale, it allows you to place different masses along different positions, The closer the masses are to the center of the scale the less of an impact they have. For example if you places a 50 kg mass on the third block from the center, it would be the same as placing a 25 kg mass six blocks away from the center. Essentially the distance and the mass are directly proportional.
The obvious assumption would be that objects with larger masses would weigh the "see-saw" down, but that is not always true. If two objects are placed equidistant from the center of the balance, then the object with more mass will tip the scale. However, moving and object closer to the center causes it to tip the see-saw less. Therefore, a 5 kg object can tip the scale in its favour over a 10 kg object, as long as it is further away from the center
If there are 2 equal masses and they are equal distance from the center than the scale will be balanced and won't tip. But the farther from the center the mass is placed the more of an effect it has on which way it tips. So if there's a lighter and heavier mass on either side it can still tip on the lighter side if it is put out far enough from the center. Also, if there are 2 equal masses placed different distances from the center it will tip towards whichever one is farther from the center.
It's hard to find a different way to say the same things over and over again...but here I go: I think its first essential to identify the system. Sure there's a level and fulcrum, and the displacement from the center combined with multiple masses help to predict the outcome, but what about gravity? What about the friction between the center of the "see-saw" support and where that connects to the board of the "see-saw". What if the "see-saw" was on a moving truck? What other things might effect the outcome?
In the intro portion of the balancing act, I was given one ten kilogram trash can as well as two five kilogram fire extinguishers. I placed the fire extinguisher in the closest possible spot to the left and attempting to balance it out; I placed both extinguishers next to each other at the closest possible markers on the right. Even if both sides turned out to be ten kilograms in total, the "see-saw" still tilted towards the fire extinguishers due to the fact the extinguishers are placed further apart compared to the trash can, even if they had the same weight of ten kilograms.
The simulator acts like a see-saw in the way that masses are placed on either side to weigh one side down more than the other. However, messing around with it, I came upon the relization that the larger mass may not always outweigh the smaller one. Where the mass is placed will effect how it moves. So, I clicked the marker button allowing myself to see if the mass was 1-8 places apart from the Center of the "see-saw". The mass that was placed farther away from the center tended to move towards the ground despite the size. Noting that, a 10kg weight could tip the see-saw downward over a 20kg weight if it was father from the center than the 20 kg weight. JC
I can't. Click on the link!!! Oh wait cut and paste the url.
ReplyDeleteTrivia:
What does url stand for?
Answer: universal resource locator
The simulator acts like a see-saw. Objects with different masses at different positions make it tip one way or the other. There are also several different ways to keep it level. One is to put two of the same sized masses at the same displacements from the center of the simulator in opposite directions. Another is to put one mass at one position on one side of the simulator, and another mass that is two times greater at a position one half of the other's position on the other side. It also works if you have a mass of 1 at a position of 3 on one side, and a mass of 3 at a position of 1 on the other side. There are many other combinations that work to keep it level as well. But if the mass is larger than another mass and is more towards to end of the see-saw than another mass, then it will tip to the greater mass side.
ReplyDeleteThe simulator is like a scale, it allows you to place different masses along different positions, The closer the masses are to the center of the scale the less of an impact they have. For example if you places a 50 kg mass on the third block from the center, it would be the same as placing a 25 kg mass six blocks away from the center. Essentially the distance and the mass are directly proportional.
ReplyDeleteThe obvious assumption would be that objects with larger masses would weigh the "see-saw" down, but that is not always true. If two objects are placed equidistant from the center of the balance, then the object with more mass will tip the scale. However, moving and object closer to the center causes it to tip the see-saw less. Therefore, a 5 kg object can tip the scale in its favour over a 10 kg object, as long as it is further away from the center
ReplyDeleteIf there are 2 equal masses and they are equal distance from the center than the scale will be balanced and won't tip. But the farther from the center the mass is placed the more of an effect it has on which way it tips. So if there's a lighter and heavier mass on either side it can still tip on the lighter side if it is put out far enough from the center. Also, if there are 2 equal masses placed different distances from the center it will tip towards whichever one is farther from the center.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to find a different way to say the same things over and over again...but here I go: I think its first essential to identify the system. Sure there's a level and fulcrum, and the displacement from the center combined with multiple masses help to predict the outcome, but what about gravity? What about the friction between the center of the "see-saw" support and where that connects to the board of the "see-saw". What if the "see-saw" was on a moving truck? What other things might effect the outcome?
ReplyDeleteIn the intro portion of the balancing act, I was given one ten kilogram trash can as well as two five kilogram fire extinguishers. I placed the fire extinguisher in the closest possible spot to the left and attempting to balance it out; I placed both extinguishers next to each other at the closest possible markers on the right. Even if both sides turned out to be ten kilograms in total, the "see-saw" still tilted towards the fire extinguishers due to the fact the extinguishers are placed further apart compared to the trash can, even if they had the same weight of ten kilograms.
ReplyDeleteThe simulator acts like a see-saw in the way that masses are placed on either side to weigh one side down more than the other. However, messing around with it, I came upon the relization that the larger mass may not always outweigh the smaller one. Where the mass is placed will effect how it moves. So, I clicked the marker button allowing myself to see if the mass was 1-8 places apart from the Center of the "see-saw". The mass that was placed farther away from the center tended to move towards the ground despite the size. Noting that, a 10kg weight could tip the see-saw downward over a 20kg weight if it was father from the center than the 20 kg weight.
ReplyDeleteJC