Timeline for Gravitational potential energy on a see-saw
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
9 events
when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
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Jun 12, 2018 at 16:31 | comment | added | BioPhysicist | @S.McGrew I know this. But as it was a comment to my answer, it makes it seem like you thought it should be included with it. My point is that it doesn't add anything, since the OP seems to know what a $0$ net torque is. I have no problem with you though :) | |
Jun 12, 2018 at 16:04 | comment | added | S. McGrew | I think comments aren't expected to be answers-- | |
Jun 12, 2018 at 14:59 | vote | accept | FizzleDizzle | ||
Jun 12, 2018 at 14:47 | comment | added | BioPhysicist | @S.McGrew The OP wants to understand why this is true. Saying it is true because it is true is not answering the question. | |
Jun 12, 2018 at 14:46 | history | edited | BioPhysicist | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
Fixed to be consistent with question edits
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Jun 12, 2018 at 14:31 | comment | added | S. McGrew | If the "arms" of the see-saw are allowed to be different (L1 and L2), then as long as m1 x L1 =m2 x L2, the potential energy will not change as the see-saw rocks. | |
Jun 12, 2018 at 14:30 | comment | added | BioPhysicist | @FizzleDizzle Ah ok. That would have been nice to specify :) Every see-saw I have been on has the pivot in the middle and does not have the capability to adjust the pivot so that the net torque is always $0$ haha. I will adjust accordingly. | |
Jun 12, 2018 at 14:28 | comment | added | FizzleDizzle | I updated the question to the general case where the see-saw is in equilibrium but the masses m1 and m2 are not equal, i.e. when the torques balance and the masses are at different distances from the pivot. (This is actually the question I wanted to ask.) | |
Jun 12, 2018 at 14:14 | history | answered | BioPhysicist | CC BY-SA 4.0 |