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Assume we have a platform fixed to a pivot point:

Forgive the crude image

We use 2 rods, either side of the pivot point, but at different distances from it.

If we were to lift ROD 1 by a certain amount, how much would ROD 2 have to lower?

What other information is needed in solving this problem?

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  • $\begingroup$ This reads like a homework problem. If it is, please provide the work you've done already to solve it, according to Engineering.SE's stance on homework questions. $\endgroup$
    – grfrazee
    Commented Jan 7, 2016 at 13:59
  • $\begingroup$ @grfrazee, this is not a homework problem. I'm a CS student with a curiosity for engineering :) $\endgroup$
    – M-R
    Commented Jan 7, 2016 at 14:01
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    $\begingroup$ It would still be good to show your work. $\endgroup$
    – grfrazee
    Commented Jan 7, 2016 at 14:09

1 Answer 1

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This problem can be simply understood via similar triangles. When you raise one rod, it creates a triangle between its original point (where it connects with the platform), its final position and the fulcrum. The other rod creates a similar triangle. You can therefore find the relation between how much each rod moves via the difference in scale of the triangles.

If one triangle is $X$ times larger than the other, then that triangle will also move $X$ times more than the other.

Since it's almost trivial with a casual glance at the link above, I'll leave it to you to find the difference in scale of the triangles.

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