A balanced lever has two weights on it, the first with mass #4 kg # and the second with mass #32 kg#. If the first weight is # 5 m# from the fulcrum, how far is the second weight from the fulcrum?

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Answer 1 · 2016-02-26T17:59:17

#color(brown)("The second weight is 40 metres from the fulcrum")#

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The way to compare the two sides for 'Equilibrium' (balanced) is to compare 'moment arms' using force times distance

So we end up with #(32xx5) Kgm=(4x) Kgm#

Divide both sides by 4 giving:

#(32xx5)/4 =x#

#x= 40# but #x# is in metres so we have:

#color(brown)("The second weight is 40 metres from the fulcrum")#