Question

Alice is going on a picnic and is aware that it will be easier to carry the picnic basket if it balances at the center where the handle is attached. She has placed a 2.25-kg container of potato salad at one end and a 0.625-kg package of hot dogs at the other end of a 52.0-cm long basket. Determine where she should place a 2.15-kg container of lemonade so that the basket balances at its center.

Answer 1

Answer:

19.65 from centre towards the Hot dog

Explanation:

$m_1$ = Mass of potato salad container = 2.25 kg

$m_2$ = Mass of lemonade container = 2.15 kg

$m_3$ =Mass of hot dog package = 0.625 kg

l = Length of basket = 52 cm

x = Location of lemonade container

When the mass is balanced along the center of mass the following equation applies

$-m_1\frac{l}{2}+m_2x+m_3\frac{l}{2}=0\\\\\Rightarrow x=\frac{m_1\frac{l}{2}-m_3\frac{l}{2}}{m_2}\\\\\\\Rightarrow x=\frac{2.25\frac{0.52}{2}-0.625\frac{0.52}{2}}{2.15}\\\\\Rightarrow x=0.1965\ m$

The lemonade container should be placed at 19.65 cm towards the 0.675 kg mass

19.65 from centre towards the Hot dog