In this project, we had to create a system of weight balancing that demonstrates equilibrium. The objects that we decided to use were: sticks from outside, Christmas items, a clothes hanger, and two weights. For our calculations, we used mass, length, and gravity to find our torque for both counterclockwise as well as clockwise. We have to use Torque of CW = Torque of CCW. After we find the torque of each side, we then subtract CCW from CW because we know that if equilibrium is true then the torque should be equal to or close to 0. With the torques of each side, we can find the force and center of gravity by multiplying it by the distance from the fulcrum. In the end, we were able to calculate and get results that proved that equilibrium was demonstrated. The factors that don’t allow us to get a zero for our total system’s torque may be friction, not being able to accurately measure the sticks as they were curvy, and possibly inaccurate weight measurements but rounding the number will result in zero.
Below is a picture of my calculations.
