Question

A balanced lever has two weights on it, the first with mass `3 kg` and the second with mass `4 kg`. If the first weight is `8 m` from the fulcrum, how far is the second weight from the fulcrum?

Answer 1

The distance is `=6m`

Explanation:

The first mass is `M_1=3kg`

The distance `a=8m`

The second mass is `M_2=4kg`

Taking moments about the fulcrum

`M_2xxb=M_1xxa`

The distance

`b=(M_1xxa)/(M_2)=(3*8)/4=6m`