A balanced lever has two weights on it, the first with mass 5kg and the second with mass 35kg. If the first weight is 9m from the fulcrum, how far is the second weight from the fulcrum?

1 Answer
Dec 12, 2016

=1.29m(3s.f.)

Explanation:

use turning moments:

M1D1=M2D2

(M being mass of weight on lever, D being distance from fulcrum)

M1=5kg
M2=35kg

D1=9m

find D2:

M1D1=59=45
M2D2=35D2=45

D2=(4535)m

=(97)m

=1.29m(3s.f.)