Question

A balanced lever has two weights on it, the first with mass `16 kg` and the second with mass `36 kg`. If the first weight is `2 m` from the fulcrum, how far is the second weight from the fulcrum?

Answer 1

`0.889m`

Explanation:

From the second condition of static equilibrium, the resultant torque must be zero, ie `sum vec tau = 0` where `vec tau = vec r xx vec F`.
`therefore r_1F_1-r_2F_2=0`
`therefore (2xx16g)-r_2xx36g=0`
`therefore r_2=0.889m`.