The Meter Stick Lab

Our goal for the meter stick lab was to find the weight of the meter stick without weighing it, but instead using a table, an 100g weight, and the meter stick itself. The formulas that we will need to use in order to solve this problem are: w = m*g
                    lever arm * F = lever arm * F (counter-clockwise torque = clockwise torque)



To start this project, we had to find the center point of the meter stick as it balances on the table. Luckily, it balanced directly at the halfway mark which was 50 cm. Next you must add the 100g weight to the end of the meter stick, and immediately, we see that the meter stick drops off the table. Why is this? It's simply because it isn't balanced. In order for it to balance out, you would have to slide the meter stick creating what we scientifically would call a lever arm in order to find the torque of the object.





This is an example of what the new lab would look like. Seeing this, we can add the formula for torque which is: Lever Arm 1= 30         Lever Arm 2 = 20
counter-clockwise torque = clockwise torque
(lever arm)(F) = (lever arm)(F)
(30)(.98) = (20)(F)
29.4 = (20)(F)
  20         20
1.47N = F

W = (M)(G)
1.47N = (M)(9.8)
  9.8           9.8
.15Kg = M
150g = M

(Actual mass was 150.8)