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A balanced lever has two weights on it, the first with mass #15 kg # and the second with mass #9 kg#. If the first weight is # 4 m# from the fulcrum, how far is the second weight from the fulcrum?

Answer 1

Elena Albarran

The distance is #=6.67m#

The moments on both sides of the fulcrum must de equal on equilibrium.

#Moment =#Force x distance

So,

Moment of first weight #=15g*4=60g Nm#

Moment of the second weight #=9g*d Nm#

Where #d=# distance from the fulcum

On equilibrium

#60g=9g*d#

#d=60/9=20/3=6.67m#

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Answer 2

Layla Ahmed

To find the distance of the second weight from the fulcrum, we use the principle of moments, which states that the sum of the anticlockwise moments is equal to the sum of the clockwise moments. Mathematically, this can be expressed as: (mass1) * (distance1) = (mass2) * (distance2). Substituting the given values, we have: (15 kg) * (4 m) = (9 kg) * (distance2). Solving for distance2, we find that the second weight is approximately 6.67 meters from the fulcrum.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.