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Home Concept Builders Rotational Motion and Balance Balanced vs. Unbalanced Torques Directions

Balanced vs. Unbalanced Torques - Directions

The Balanced vs. Unbalanced Torques Concept Builder is quite simple to use. There are three different difficulty levels and each level involves the same task of answering same two questions. The questions are shown below the graphic. The graphic displays a beam resting on a fulcrum (the triangle). The location of the forces are shown on the diagram. The amount of force (Master and Wizard level) or the amount of torque (Apprentice level) is also displayed on the diagram. The vertical hash marks on the beam allow you to get a quantitative measure of the relative distance of the location where the force is applied to the fulcrum. This distance and any given force value can be used to calculate the amount of torque (where needed). You must then determine if the torques are balanced. There are two buttons you can tap to select an answer - Balanced or Unbalanced. When you tap one of the buttons, it is highlighted. If you change your mind then just tap on the other button. You must also decide if the beam will experience an angular acceleration from these torques. You can answer Yes or No by tapping on the corresponding button. As long as you have an answer to the two questions, a Check Answer button will be visible. If you are satisfied with your answers, then tap on the Check Answer button. Your answers will be evaluated and your progress report will be updated (for Task Tracker users).

Your goal is to answer questions, earn "Stars" (Task Tracker users), and to complete one or more difficulty levels. Stars are earned when you show success on a particular question. Once you show success on all the questions for a particular level, you will earn the Trophy for that level.

Concept Builder Teacher Notes