Question

A balanced lever has two weights on it, the first with mass `1 kg` and the second with mass `5 kg`. If the first weight is `2 m` from the fulcrum, how far is the second weight from the fulcrum?

Answer 1

The distance is `=0.4m`

Explanation:

The mass `M_1=1kg`

The mass `M_2=5kg`

The distance `a=2m`

Taking moments about the fulcrum

`M_1xxa=M_2xxb`

`b=(M_1xxa)/(M_2)=(1xx2)/(5)=0.4m`