Question

A false balance is such that the beam remains horizontal when the pans are empty an object weights w1 when placed in one pan and w2 when placed in the other pan the true weigth of the object is

Answer 1

Correct option (b) (x + y)/2

Explanation :

Since the balance has equal arms and it is a false balance, so the pans must be having different weights.

Let w1 and w2 be the weight of left pan and right pan respectively.

Let w be the true weight of object.

When placed in left pan it weights x i.e. a total weight of w + w1 on left balances a total weight of w2 + x on the right pan.

w + w1 = w2 + x .........(i)

Similarly it weights y when placed in right pan

i.e. y + w1 = w + w2 ..........(ii)

Solving these two equations we get :

w = (x + y)/2 -/a-false-balance-has-equal-arms-an-object-weight-x-when-placed-in-one-pan-and-y-in-the-other-pan