What torque is produced by a 500 g mass at a 35 cm mark?

Question

mani_jha · Answer

On a 100 cm scale?

anonymous · Answer

yeah

mani_jha · Answer

$$Torque=(Force)X(Perpendicular Distance \to the axis)$$
What is the force here, and what is the perpendicular distance to the axis?
Hint: The force here is the weight, and the axis here is the 50 cm mark

amistre64 · Answer

isnt that a 35cm mark?

mani_jha · Answer

Oh yeah amistre, But I think it means that the mass is placed at the 35 cm mark. It is difficult to interpret the grammar in such questions :P

amistre64 · Answer

....k  i was just wondering since im not quite a physics wizard.  thought i mighta been missing something important, again :)

so is the torque for this simply 500*35 then?

mani_jha · Answer

Actually the axis is at 50 cm. So the distance of the mass from the axis is (50-35) =15cm
So the torque in CGS units is 500*15.

amistre64 · Answer

yep, im confused again :/   its prolly cause i got no idea what 35cm mark is spose to be.  35 from 50 you say

mani_jha · Answer

|dw:1333331253542:dw|
The scale will rotate about the 50cm mark. Try it at home. Place something on a scale near one of the ends, and see what happens to it. That's why we consider the 50 cm mark as the origin, and calculate distances from that point. Now ok, amistre?