Walking the Plank
Safety Warnings
Warning: Fall Hazard and Structural Safety
Purpose
A person walks along a plank extending over the edge of a lecture bench, dramatically illustrating torque balance. Adding a counterweight (medicine ball or lead bricks) to the opposite end increases how far the person can walk out, emphasizing the lever arm's role in \(\tau = F \times d\).
Figure 1:
Person standing near the bench edge on the overhanging plank. The medicine ball counterweight and safety-stop bar are at the opposite end.
Figure 2:
Person moves further from the pivot, increasing the torque from their weight.
Figure 3:
Maximum extension with the medicine ball counterweight. The torque balance $\tau_{person} = \tau_{weight}$ sets the limit.
Equipment
- 1