A balanced lever has two weights on it, one with mass 3kg and one with mass 8kg. If the first weight is 7m from the fulcrum, how far is the second weight from the fulcrum?

1 Answer
Aug 27, 2016

218 The force times distance on one side must balance the force times distance on the other side.

Explanation:

M1×D1=M2×D2

The force x distance on one side of the fulcrum must equal the force times the distance on the other side of the fulcrum.

M1 = 3 kg

D1 = 7 m

M2 = 8kg

D2 = an unkown.

Subsitute the values into the equation and solve.

3×7=8×D2

218=D2

258=D2