A balanced lever has two weights on it, the first with mass 2 kg and the second with mass 38 kg. If the first weight is 18 m from the fulcrum, how far is the second weight from the fulcrum?

1 Answer
arjun i.
Dec 11, 2015

This problem can be easily solved by "Law of moments" which is just equating net torque on the system to zero.

Explanation:

Moment due to the m_1=2kg mass at l_1=18m= m_1l_1=2\times18=36
let it be at a distance x from the fulcrum.
Moment due to the m_2=38kg mass at l_2= x distance=38x
Law of moments says-
m_1 l_1=m_2 l_2
38x=36
x=\frac{36}{38}m=\frac{18}{19}m=0.94m

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