Science Secrets · Drawing 04 of 40
The Seesaw Helper
Forces and Movement
A seesaw turns around a support point. Each person’s distance from this point matters. Moving closer to the middle changes the turning effect of their weight.
Did you know?
A seesaw is a lever.
Look together
What would moving toward the support point change?
An idea to try
With an adult, balance a ruler on a stable support. Compare identical small blocks placed at different distances.
For the adult reading along
A little more to discover
The turning effect depends on force and perpendicular distance from the axis. The illustration explains a lever; it does not measure masses or lengths.
Sources and illustration notes (1)
Simplified scene and shapes. Models, imagined comparisons and enlargements do not preserve all real measurements.
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. References identify the institution and the related lesson; some linked pages are in French.
- OpenStax: The Second Condition for EquilibriumA seesaw turns around a support point. Each person’s distance from this point matters. Moving closer to the middle changes the turning effect of their weight.
Source review: 2026-10-12. Illustrations are simplified for colouring.
