Balancing Moments

myminifactory

Students starting mechanical engineering courses learn to model forces from the get-go. One of the first concepts they grasp is the moment, which boils down to a force multiplied by a distance from an axis of interest (M = F x L). For a system to be static, these moments must balance out perfectly. This hands-on exercise demonstrates how to balance a moment equation for a static system. The model consists of a moment-arm (lever) and forces (weights) acting on the arm. There are four notches on each side of the lever axis, spaced evenly apart at equal increasing intervals. The weights provided are scaled multiples of each other - two small ones weigh as much as one medium weight, while three small ones weigh the same as one large weight. To learn more about moments, check out https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/levers-d_1304.html. The materials needed for this model require 11 grams of filament. At my current filament price, that adds up to a total cost of 22 cents. If you're looking for a similar instruction tool, you can find one on Amazon for $23 at https://www.amazon.com/hand2mind-Student-Balance-Weights-Calibration/dp/B008N17ZGA/ref=pd_sbs_328_25?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B008N17ZGA&pd_rd_r=175f77b1-2b76-4771-90ca-af7bbe268da1&pd_rd_w=puGPC&pd_rd_wg=GZPJv&pf_rd_p=52b7592c-2dc9-4ac6-84d4-4bda6360045e&pf_rd_r=K87RTB0WKNX3KADFZ00T&psc=1&refRID=K87RTB0WKNX3KADFZ00T