A balanced lever has two weights on it, the first with mass 16 kg 16kg and the second with mass 36 kg36kg. If the first weight is 2 m2m from the fulcrum, how far is the second weight from the fulcrum?

1 Answer
Feb 16, 2016

0.889m0.889m

Explanation:

From the second condition of static equilibrium, the resultant torque must be zero, ie sum vec tau = 0τ=0 where vec tau = vec r xx vec Fτ=r×F.
therefore r_1F_1-r_2F_2=0
therefore (2xx16g)-r_2xx36g=0
therefore r_2=0.889m.