<p>Hey everyone. This is the Physics problem.</p>
<p>You have a seesaw that is 4 m long. A 75 kg person is sitting 1.5 m from the focal point of the seesaw (which I assume is right in the middle - 2 m mark). How far away from the focal point should a 65 kg person sit to balance out the seesaw?</p>
<p>There is not set equation, but I need to know <em>how</em> to set it up. Thanks!</p>
<p>Sum torque around the focal point of the seesaw.</p>
<p>Torque= F x d
Sum of Torque around a point = Sum of all (F x d) around a point</p>
<p>At equilibrium Torque = 0</p>
<p>0 = F1 x d1 + F2 x d2</p>
<p>Designate either clockwise torque or counterclockwise torque as negative.
and you'll have</p>
<p>F1 x d1 = F2 x d2</p>
<p>Another way is to set the center of mass at the focal point.</p>
<p>I like Schwaby's way...that is just a simple, brute force method which is going to get you the right answer.</p>
<p>:p</p>
<p>(haha, just kidding)</p>