A balanced lever has two weights on it, one with mass $2 k g$ $2 kg$ and one with mass $8 k g$ $8 kg$ . If the first weight is $4 m$ $4 m$ from the fulcrum, how far is the second weight from the fulcrum?

Question

A balanced lever has two weights on it, one with mass $2 k g$ $2 kg$ and one with mass $8 k g$ $8 kg$ . If the first weight is $4 m$ $4 m$ from the fulcrum, how far is the second weight from the fulcrum?

2 Answers

Impact of this question

3735 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2018-03-30T14:53:19

$1 m$ $1m$

Explanation:

The concept that comes into use here is torque. For the lever to not tip over or rotate, it must have a net torque of zero.

Now, the formula of torque is $T = F \cdot d$ $T=F*d$ .

Take an example to understand, if we hold a stick and attach a weight at the front of the stick, it doesn't seem too heavy but if we move the weight to the end of the stick, it seems a lot heavier. This is because the torque increases.

Now for the torque to be same,
$T_{1} = T_{2}$ $T_1=T_2$

$F_{1} \cdot d_{1} = F_{2} \cdot d_{2}$ $F_1*d_1=F_2*d_2$

The first block weighs 2 kg and exerts approximately $20 N$ $20N$ of force and is at a distance of 4m

The first block weighs 8 kg and exerts approximately $80 N$ $80N$

Putting this in the formula,

$20 \cdot 4 = 80 \cdot x$ $20*4=80*x$

We get that x= 1m and hence it must be placed at a distance of 1m

Answer 2 · 2018-03-30T14:55:42

The distance is $= 1 m$ $=1m$

Explanation:

![www.thoughtco.com]( useruploads.socratic.org )

The mass $M_{1} = 2 k g$ $M_1=2kg$

The mass $M_{2} = 8 k g$ $M_2=8kg$

The distance $a = 4 m$ $a=4m$

Taking moments about the fulcrum

$M_{1} \times a = M_{2} \times b$ $M_1xxa=M_2xxb$

The distance is

$b = \frac{M_{1} \times a}{M_{2}} = \frac{2 \cdot 4}{8} = 1 m$ $b=(M_1xxa)/(M_2)=(2*4)/(8)=1m$

Science

Math

Humanities

... and beyond

A balanced lever has two weights on it, one with mass $2 k g$ $2 kg$ and one with mass $8 k g$ $8 kg$ . If the first weight is $4 m$ $4 m$ from the fulcrum, how far is the second weight from the fulcrum?

2 Answers

Explanation:

Explanation:

Related questions

Impact of this question

Science

Math

Humanities

... and beyond

A balanced lever has two weights on it, one with mass 2 kg2kg2 kg and one with mass 8 kg8kg8 kg. If the first weight is 4 m4m 4 m from the fulcrum, how far is the second weight from the fulcrum?

2 Answers

Explanation:

Explanation:

Related questions

Impact of this question

A balanced lever has two weights on it, one with mass $2 k g$ $2 kg$ and one with mass $8 k g$ $8 kg$ . If the first weight is $4 m$ $4 m$ from the fulcrum, how far is the second weight from the fulcrum?