Finding the Mass of a Meter Stick

    In the first step, Zach, Nolan, and I were faced with three different scenarios that helped us try and figure out what we needed to do which, in this case, was find the mass of the meter stick without using the scale and with the the center of gravity only. Our first step was to write out and show the diagram of the problem from the information that was given. Firstly, we knew the the way to find the weight of the ruler was to draw out the diagram and label the side which had the 100g ball on it and using the fulcrum as the edge of the table. We label each side of the diagram with the appropriate force, and distance. 

    The next step was to actually put it to the test. We knew that to find the weight of the ruler we would have balance the torques on each side. Knowing that the equation for torque is torque= force x lever arm. We found both lever arms by finding the center of gravity of either side and subtracting it by the remaining distances. After completing this step we came to the conclusion that the (f=.98) x (24.5) = (f) x (25.5)

    So the next step we needed to preform was to solve for f. To balance the equation both sides needed to be equal to 24.01. and we came to the conclusion that .94 was the force and this was the weight of the meter stick in newtons. The next thing to was do was multiply the force by the force of gravity to get the mass. This, converting it to kg would be equal to 95.9kgm/s^2.  

     In conclusion, the actual mass of the meter stick was 95.8, and because of the fact that my group was on point that day with all aspects of all physics knowledge we were .1 off the actual mass of the meter stick.