Balancing Act Simulation

Name:
Matthew Himes

Physics
The Balancing Act Simulation can be accessed in the any of the following ways.

Follow the link to the PHET website that is posted in Moodle

Use this link http://phet.colorado.edu/sims/balance-and-torque/balancingact_en.jnlp

Part 1: Intro
1. Investigate Balancing Act using the Intro tab at the top by moving the fire extinguishers
and trash cans around and removing the supports to try to balance the seesaw. While you
play with this tool, make observations about when the beam balances and when it doesnt.
Use the tools on the side (mass labels, rulers, forces from objects and the level) to help you
make your observations.
2. Without using the simulation, drag the trash can onto the beam and place it where you
think it would make the beam balance.

3. Explain your justification for placing the trash can where you did:

I placed the trash can here because its double the weight of the fire
extinguisher meaning it would have to be half the distance.
4. Without using the simulation, drag the trashcan onto the beam and place it where you
think it would make the beam balance.

5. Explain your justification for placing the trash can where you did:

Its the same weight but I put inbetween them and hoping that you take the
average of there distance.

Part 2: The Game

Click on the Game tab in the upper left. Try several scenarios at the different levels for a
minute or two each.
6. Explain what factors affect the balancing of the beam and describe how each factor
appears to affect the balancing (remember what we discussed in class regarding torque!):

Weight and the distance from the center the distance makes it want to pull
the higher weight in further to equal out a smaller weight further out.
7. Now suppose you go to the park with a younger, smaller child. How would you use this
information so the two of you could use the seesaw even though you are not the same
size?

That if your younger sibling sits opposite of you he will work less to push you
down and you work more to push him down because you push your own
weight.
Part 3: The Balance Lab
8. Calculate where the 80 kg man would need to sit to balance the beam. Drag him and place
him in the correct position on the picture below.

9. Show you calculations for number 8.

80/20=4

2/4=0.5

10.Click on the Balance Lab tab on the upper left of the simulation. Check the rulers box in
the upper right and then arrow to the right to select the people in the lower right box. Test
your calculation above by setting the child and man on the beam and testing to see if they
balance. How did you do? IF it was incorrect, explain WHY:

I was correct

11.Predict where you would place the 20kg pile of bricks to balance the beam and drag it into
place?

20 kg

12. Show you calculations for number 11.

15x2=30

40/20=2

10x1=10
30+10=40
13. Now test your predictions and calculations using the Balance Lab tab. Evaluate your
calculations.

They were correct

14.Using the Balancing Lab tab and scrolling to the mystery packages, determine the mass of
each mystery package.

Package

Mass
(kg)

20 kg

5 kg

10 kg

7.5 kg

15.Describe how you found the mass of package H in # 14:

Figured out the tourqe after I equalized box and divided by distance.