Home > Physics > Simple Machines

A balanced lever has two weights on it, the first with mass #72 kg # and the second with mass #18 kg#. If the first weight is # 6 m# from the fulcrum, how far is the second weight from the fulcrum?

Answer 1

William Audy

The distance is #=24m#

The mass #M_1=72kg#

The mass #M_2=18kg#

The distance #a=6m#

Taking moments about the fulcrum

#M_1xxa=M_2xxb#

#b=(M_1xxa)/(M_2)=(72xx6)/(18)=24m#

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Answer 2

Charles Aeschliman

( \text{Distance of second weight from fulcrum} = \frac{\text{First weight mass} \times \text{First weight distance from fulcrum}}{\text{Second weight mass}} = \frac{72 , \text{kg} \times 6 , \text{m}}{18 , \text{kg}} = 24 , \text{m} )

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

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.