Moments, levers and gears

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Question 35
Medium

A student makes a decorative mobile using a lightweight metre rule suspended from its centre (the 50 cm mark). Three felt ornaments are hung from different positions on the rule:

  • ornament X (a star) of weight 2.5 N is suspended at the 20 cm mark
  • ornament Y (a moon) of weight 1.5 N is suspended at the 70 cm mark
  • ornament Z (a cloud) of weight 1.0 N is suspended at the 95 cm mark

A horizontal metre rule is suspended from its center at the 50 cm mark. On the left side of the suspension, ornament X (a star, 2.5 N) hangs from the 20 cm mark. On the right side, ornament Y (a moon, 1.5 N) hangs from the 70 cm mark and ornament Z (a cloud, 1.0 N) hangs from the 95 cm mark.

Using the principle of moments, determine if the mobile is in equilibrium. Show your calculations.

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Moments, levers and gears Questions

  1. GCSE
  2. /Physics
  3. /Moments, levers and gears