Two children of mass 20.0 kg and 30.0 kg sit balanced on a seesaw with the pivot point located at the center of the seesaw. If the children are separated by a distance of 3.00 m, at what distance from the pivot point is the small child sitting in order to maintain the balance

The distance from the pivot point that the small child will sit in order to maintain the balance is 1.8 m

Explanation:

Given;

mass of the bigger child, M = 30 kg

mass of the smaller child, m = 20 kg

distance between the two children, d = 3 m

This information can be represented diagrammatically;

                                    3m

         |<>|

         ↓             x            Δ            3-x           ↓

         20kg                                                 30kg

x is the distance from the pivot point that the small child will sit in order to maintain the balance

Take moment about the pivot;

Clockwise moment = anticlockwise moment

30(3-x) = 20x

90 -30x = 20x

90 = 20x + 30x

90 = 50x

x = 90 / 50

x = 1.8 m

Therefore, the distance from the pivot point that the small child will sit in order to maintain the balance is 1.8 m

it is a negative acceleration