Torque & Equilibrium
BlackBoard Notes

======================= Photo - Click for a Larger Version =============================

======================= First Board Section =============================

• Examining torque and the Moment of Inertia

• Lever Arm

τ = Fr sinθ

(Point out that this is the Greek letter "tau", not "t"!)

======================= Second Board Section =============================

• Today's Experiment: The Equal Arm Balance

• Note to Jeff: the 'hole' is removed from this pic. All EAB's are marked, so it shouldn't (har, har) be necessary to draw on the board!

• When finished, please:
  • carefully remove hangers from equal arm balance
  • return masses to their boxes (quantities inside box lid)

======================= Third Board Section =============================

• Balancing
  • Which orientation is easier to balance? Why?

Balance carefully! Don't bash yourself in the face.

======================= Fourth Board Section =============================

• Rotating
  • Red or Blue rod: which is easier to rotate? Why?

• How is the moment of inertia, I (resistance to rotation) different when balancing or rotating these rods?
• I ∝ m r²

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©	St. Lawrence University	Department of Physics

Revised: 15 Jul 25

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