Question

LAB: The purpose of this experiment is to study the conditions that must be satisfied for a rigid object to be in static equilibrium. This is done by computing the total torque acting on a meter stick by means of weights suspended at specific locations on the ruler.

If a baseball bat (thicker on one side than the other) is cut at the location where it balances, with both side be of equal weight?

Can the meter stick be balanced if a mass is attached on one side only?

In each of the procedures of this experiment, are the forces also balanced?

How do the different masses being balanced show the properties of a lever?

What are the sources of error in this experiment?

If the meter stick is replaced with a metal stick, and the whole experiment is done inside water (e.g. on the floor of a swimming pool), will the same principles apply as they do in ir? Will it matter if the masses are made of different materials (e.g. if the 200 g is made of iron or lead, or wood)?

Why does a tight rope walker carry a long, horizontal bar to keep him balanced?

Answer 1

As this is an experiment based question, I will answer those which are conept based.

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1) If a baseball is cut at the location of center of mass, Both sides will not have equal weight. The piece with the handle will have less mass. The piece with hitting end will have more weight.

2) Meter stick cannot be balance with mass on one side only as lever arm will not be balanced.

3) The horizontal pole has heavy weights on the end, serving two purposes: increasing the moment of inertia of the pole and the amount of control over the net torque the tightrope walker has. An increased moment of inertia helps withstand external sources of torque, such as sudden gusts of wind.The heavy weights allow the tightrope walker to exert torque by simply rotating the pole slightly, which moves his/her center of mass the other way, helping recenter him- or herself directly over the tightrope