A balanced lever has two weights on it, the first with mass #9 kg # and the second with mass #32 kg#. If the first weight is # 6 m# from the fulcrum, how far is the second weight from the fulcrum?

2 Answers
Feb 25, 2016

#27/16# m.

Explanation:

For a balanced lever the torque on the two ends must be equal.

Torque can be defined as #"mass" xx "distance from fulcrum"#

So
#color(white)("XXX")m_1xxd_1 = m_2 xx d_2#

or for the given data:
#color(white)("XXX")9 " kg"xx6" m" = 32" kg" xx d_2 " m"#

#color(white)("XXX")d_2=(9xx6)/32 " m" = 27/16" m"#

Feb 25, 2016

Second weight is #54/32=1.6875# #m# far from fulcrum.

Explanation:

Let the the second weight be #x# m far from the fulcrum.

As the lever is balanced, moment (#M=F*d#, where #F# is force applied and #d# is its distance from fulcrum) of the two weights should be equal.

Moment of first weight is #9*6=54# and as it balances second weight of #32# kg, the latter's distance should be

#54/32=1.6875# #m#.