What are you Torque-ing About?

 

Torque is a force that makes things start to pivot.

 

One example of applying torque occurs when you push open a door.  It's the force that makes the door pivot around its hinges.  If there wasn't a wall, the door could technically go around in circles, right?  Think about revolving doors.

 

A see-saw is another good example of torque.  Imagine you climb onto one side of a see-saw and no one is on the other side.  You pivot around the fulcrum and come to rest on the ground.  What force is making you move?  Our old friend, force due to gravity, otherwise known as weight.  Remember calculating with Newton's 2nd Law?!?

 

The Challenge: Balance the experimental see-saw using different masses.  In other words, get the same amount of torque on each side of the fulcrum.

 

The Tools: A balance kit that includes a meter stick, masses, hangers and a fulcrum.  A calculator may prove handy too.

 

The Tricks of the Trade:

 

Directions: 

Set up see-saw so that it is balanced when no weights are hanging on it.  Choose two masses and hang one from each side of the see-saw with the sliding hangers.  Move their position until the meter stick is balanced.  Then record the data and repeat for different masses and/or different distances.  You should try a minimum of 5 combinations.

 

Data table:

As a team create a data table with these headings on a separate piece of paper. This may be hand written or word-processed.

Please note: Distances should be measured from the center.

 

 

Mass on left

Distance on left

Torque on left

Mass on right

Distance on right

Torque on right

100g

10cm

9800

50g

20cm

9800

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calculations and Analysis:

1.     If you haven't already, fill in the torque boxes on your data chart.

 

  1. Hmmm.  Time for some critical thinking.   What generalizations can you make about balancing dissimilar weight?  Is there a rule of thumb you discovered?  Explain what you are thinking.  You may use words, equations, pictures or any combination of the above.

 

 

Questions:

To be answered on a separate piece of paper as an individual for homework.  Please use paragraph structure, complete sentences and observe the conventions of writing.  This may be hand written or word-processed.

 

  1. With your partner, think up at least two more examples where you can identify torque.  Describe the situation.

 

  1. How are distance from the fulcrum and torque related?  Are they directly or inversely related?  Explain how you know.

 

  1. What are some possible sources of error in this experiment?  What could you do to reduce error if you did this again?

 

  1. Imagine this situation.  Two identical twins (the same mass) are sitting on a see-saw equidistant from the fulcrum.  They go up and down, up and down.  Why?  Aren't they perfectly balanced?  How does this work?

 

  1. How might the concept of torque apply to issues of weight and balance in an aircraft?  Be detailed and use examples if possible.