Hi Folks:
I'm pondering teaching torque and having students build mobiles as part of that. I started wondering if I could have them derive a torque equation.
That started me wondering-if they were placing weights along different lengths of straws or skewers or something, could they weigh that on a scale to get the force? It seemed like it should work, but them I'm thinking maybe not as the scale will support the mass since the mass rests on it.
???
And if that won't work, what would? How could you derive this? (One plan would be to have students make the mobiles first and THEN analyze them, however I'm looking for alternate ideas).
I'm pondering teaching torque and having students build mobiles as part of that. I started wondering if I could have them derive a torque equation.
That started me wondering-if they were placing weights along different lengths of straws or skewers or something, could they weigh that on a scale to get the force? It seemed like it should work, but them I'm thinking maybe not as the scale will support the mass since the mass rests on it.
???
And if that won't work, what would? How could you derive this? (One plan would be to have students make the mobiles first and THEN analyze them, however I'm looking for alternate ideas).