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?

1 Answer
Feb 16, 2016

#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#.