A balanced lever has two weights on it, the first with mass #6 kg # and the second with mass #8 kg#. If the first weight is # 4 m# from the fulcrum, how far is the second weight from the fulcrum?

1 Answer
Jun 23, 2018

The distance is #=3m#

Explanation:

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The acceleration due to gravity is #g=9.8ms^-2#

The mass #M_1=6kg#

The mass #M_2=8kg#

The distance #a=4m#

Taking moments about the fulcrum

#M_1gxxa=M_2gxxb#

So,

#6gxx4=8gxxb#

#b=(24g)/(8g)=3m#