TI-Nspire™ Activities: Physics

In this activity, students use a precompiled data set to explore the relationship between force, torque, and lever arm. They study data collected for a first-class lever. The resistance force and resistance arm were kept constant during the experiment, but the effort arm varied. The effort force needed to balance the lever was measured with a force sensor.

Students examine the data on effort arm and effort force. They identify the qualitative relationship.

Students use the collected data to calculate the effort torque. They compare the effort torque with the resistance torque and confirm that balanced torques produce no rotational acceleration.