what is the second persons mass?

Question

two pple are sitting on a balanced teeter totter. one of them weighs 45.2kg and is 1.30 m away from point of balance. other person is 2.15 away from the point of balance.

is it:
T = Fd + Fd ---- > T = (45.2 X9.8 )(1.3) + ( 9.8m ) (2.15)
i put acceleration for gravity positive... is tat right also?
thx in advance for help

Answer 1

I'm not sure what T represents here. But even though gravity acts in the same direction on both sides, they act in different directions with respect to moment about the fulcrum. Thus, you need to say 45.3*9.8*1.3 - m*9.8*2.15 = 0, where m is the unknown mass of the second person. You can solve this algebraically.