Name: Miranda, Rochelle Ann D.

Section: S12-10

Balance in Action
“The test of all knowledge is experiment.

Experiment is the sole judge of scientific truth.”

Richard P. Feynman

• Learning Objective:

1. Determine how the magnitude of a force and the lever arm affect the torque produced .
2. Apply the conditions of static equilibrium to verify the results of the experiment.

• Introduction:

Static is the branch of mechanics that deals with the study of bodies at rest under
a number of forces. If an object is at rest and is in a state of equilibrium, then we would
say that the object is at "static equilibrium." Thus, the second condition of static
equilibrium states that the net torque acting on the object must be zero.

A torque (rhymes with a fork), a twisting force that tends to cause rotation, is the
force’s rotational counterpart, and its symbol is 𝜏 which is represented by the Greek letter
tau. Mathematically, torque is simply the product of the force and its lever arm. Hence,
this is the formula for torque,

𝜏= F × L 𝜏= F × r

where,
𝜏 = torque
F = Force
L = r = lever arm

In this activity, you will manipulate the Balancing Act simulation to analyze the
relationships between the given variables.

• Materials:
Simulation Title: Balancing Act
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/balancing-act/latest/balancing-act_en.html
Procedures:

1. Open the given link and click the balancing act tab.

2. Familiarize yourself with the components of the simulation.

Lever
Level

Ruler
Pivot Point or Fulcrum

Pillars or balance stationary beams

This tab shows if there are balance beam is present or not

Reset button

3. Click the “ Mass labels”, “Forces from the objects” and “Level” ON on the
top right side of the screen.

4. Click the Ruler button ON in the position tab to show the meters of the
lever .

5. The third box on the right side of simulation displays the different things
that can be put in the lever.

6. The tab under the pivot point/fulcrum can be slide to on and off. It
is displayed to show if the pivot point have balance stationary beam in each side and
displays also if there is none.
 7. In resetting the program, click the Reset button on the lower right side of the
screen. Remember to always reset the program after each experiment.

8. Complete the table below and answer all the guide questions.

A. Effect of Force to the torque produced.

Independent Variables: Force

Dependent Variables: Torque
Constant Variables: Lever Arm

1. Click the ruler to measure the meter away from the pivot point.
2. Put the specified object/mass on the lever in the indicated distance from the
fulcrum/pivot point.
3. If you are done placing the specified object or mass on the indicated distance from the
fulcrum. Slide the button to the right, under the pivot point, wherein the pillars are not
displayed or attached.

Object Mass Lever Arm Force Torque Object Mass Lever Arm Force Torque
1 (kg) 1 (m) (N) (Nm) 2 (kg) 2 (m) (N) (Nm)
Brick 1 10 kg 1.25 m 98 N 122.5 Nm ≈ Brick 2 15 kg 1.25 m 147 N -183.75
(to the 123 Nm (to the Nm ≈ -184
left) right) Nm
Boy 20 kg 1.25 m 196 N 245 Nm Girl 30 kg 1.25 m 294 N -367.5 Nm
(to the (to the ≈ -368 Nm
left) right)
Man 80 kg 1.25 m 784 N 980 Nm Woman 60 kg 1.25 m 588 N -735 Nm
(to the (to the
left) right)
Insert Image Here

4. Verify the results of the experiment using the formula of torque.

PICTURE OF THE COMPUTATION:

Discussions of Results:

As shown in the table above, the force affected the torque produced. For instance, trial
two displays the girl and boy who are sitting or playing in the see-saw. You can see that the girl
has a higher mass and higher force than the boy, which may equal or cause her to have higher
torque than the boy. Hence, as the force increases, the torque that will produce also increases.
Otherwise, the boy who has less mass and less force than the girl has less torque. Accordingly, it
can conclude that as the force (or the mass times the acceleration due to gravity) decreases, the
torque also decreases. Therefore, the magnitude of the force is directly proportional to the torque.
Meanwhile, as you can see in the answers above in the attached computation, all the answers on
the right side of the fulcrum have a negative sign because all the right side objects/ mass rotate
clockwise. Generally, if the mass is at the right side of the pivot point (axis of rotation or fulcrum),
then the rotation will be clockwise, so, therefore, the torque is negative.
 B. Effect of Lever Arm to torque produced.

Independent Variables: Lever Arm

Dependent Variables: Torque
Constant Variables: Force

1. Click the ruler to measure the meter away from the pivot point.
2. Put the specified object/mass on the lever in the indicated distance from the
fulcrum/pivot point.
3. If you are done placing the specified object or mass on the indicated distance from
the fulcrum. Slide the button to the right, under the pivot point, wherein the pillars
are not displayed or attached.

Object Mass Lever Arm Torque Object Mass Lever Arm 2 Torque
(kg) 1 (m) (Nm) (kg) (m) (Nm)
Brick 1 15 kg 0.75 m (to 110. 25 Brick 2 15 kg 1.25 m (to -183.75 Nm
the left) Nm ≈ 110 the right) ≈ -184 Nm
Nm
Boy 20 kg 1.5 m (to 294 Nm Boy 20 kg 0.5 m (to the -98 Nm
the left) right)
Woman 60 kg 0.75 m (to 441 Nm Woman 60 kg 0.25 m (to -147 Nm
the left) the right)

Insert Image Here

 4. Verify the results of the experiment using the formula of torque.

PICTURE OF THE COMPUTATION:

Discussion of Results:

As shown in the table above, the position of an object in the fulcrum affects the torque
produce. For instance, as the second boy (right) is closer to the fulcrum, it has a lesser torque than
the first boy (left) that is far from the pivot point (see the trial 2 featuring two boys). Thus, if you
lengthen or move the object away from the fulcrum and apply the same force, the torque will be
greater (as shown in trial 1, featuring brick 2). Meanwhile, as you can see in the answers above in
the attached computation, all the answers on the right side of the fulcrum have a negative sign
because all the right side objects/ mass rotate clockwise. Generally, if the mass is at the right side
of the pivot point (axis of rotation or fulcrum), then the rotation will be clockwise, so, therefore,
the torque is negative.

Conclusions:

I, therefore, conclude that the torque is simply the product of the force and its lever arm
(𝜏= F × L or 𝜏= F × r ). In lieu, this is the reason why both of these affect the torque so much. More
so, if you increase the lever arm and the force, the torque will also increase. Although, if you
decrease the length of the lever arm and the force present, the torque will also decrease.
Subsequently, the rotation of the object also affects the sign of the torque. Generally, if the mass
is at the right side of the pivot point (axis of rotation or fulcrum), then the rotation will be
clockwise, so the torque is negative. Otherwise, if the mass is at the left side of the pivot point
(axis of rotation or fulcrum), then the rotation is counterclockwise, so the torque is positive.
Overall, these two influence torque because torque is directly proportional to the force and its
lever arm.
References:

B. (n.d.-a). Conditions for Equilibrium | Boundless Physics. Lumen Learning. Retrieved April 21, 2021,

from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-physics/chapter/conditions-for-equilibrium/

Balancing Act. (n.d.). PhET. Retrieved April 12, 2021, from https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/balancing-

act/latest/balancing-act_en.html

Basic Biomechanics: Moment Arm & Torque. (2011, July 3). AARON SWANSON.

http://www.aaronswansonpt.com/basic-biomechanics-moment-arm-torque/

Equilibrium and Statics. (n.d.). The Physics Classroom.

https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/vectors/Lesson-3/Equilibrium-and-Statics

Torque and equilibrium review (article). (n.d.). Khan Academy. Retrieved April 21, 2021, from

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/high-school-physics/torque-and-angular-

momentum/torque-and-equilibrium/a/torque-and-equilibrium