A balanced lever has two weights on it, the first with mass #5 kg # and the second with mass #8 kg#. If the first weight is # 12 m# from the fulcrum, how far is the second weight from the fulcrum?

1 Answer
Apr 22, 2016

#7.5# #m#

Explanation:

1st load #M_1# = #5# #kg#
distance from fulcrum #a# = #12# #m#
2nd load #M_2# = #8# #kg#
distance from fulcrum #b# = #?#

We have,
#M_1# x #a# = #M_2# x #b#
now solve for #b#

solving #b =7.5# #m#