MCAT Physics Question 11: Answer and Explanation
Home > MCAT Test > MCAT physics practice tests
Test Information
- Use your browser's back button to return to your test results.
- Do more MCAT physics practice tests.
Question: 11
11. A 30 kg girl sits on a seesaw at a distance of 2 m from the fulcrum. Where must her father sit to balance the seesaw if he has a mass of 90 kg?
- A. 67 cm from the girl
- B. 67 cm from the fulcrum
- C. 133 cm from the girl
- D. 267 cm from the fulcrum
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
In order for the seesaw to be balanced, the torque due to the girl (τg) must be exactly counteracted by the torque due to her father (τf). In other words, the magnitudes of these torques must be equal (τg = τf):
Because r represents the distance of each person from the fulcrum, the father must sit 67 cm from the fulcrum.