Question

A balanced lever has two weights on it, the first with mass `34 kg` and the second with mass `68 kg`. If the first weight is `3 m` from the fulcrum, how far is the second weight from the fulcrum?

Answer 1

The second weight `68kg` is `1.5m` from the fulcrum.

Explanation:

The balanced lever is a simple scale in this configuration.
If the two weights balance each other then the distance from the fulcrum to each must be in proportion to the two weights.

That is: `w_1*d_1=w_2.d_2`

We were told that:

`w_1=34kg; w_2=68kg; d_1=3m`

So: `34kg*3m=68kg*d_2`

`cancel(34kg)*3m=cancel(68kg)*d_2`

`2d_2=3m`

`d_2=1.5m`