Question

In an experiment with a beam balance on unknown
mass m is balanced by two known mass mis
balanced by two known masses of 16 kg and
4kg as shown in figure.
The value of the unknown mass m is:
my
(16kg
Im
Mith​

Answer 1

Answer:

Here we can balance torque about wedge point as follows

16

l

1

l1=

l

2

l2m

⇒

l

1

l

2

=

m

16

⇒l1l2=m16 ....(1)

m

l

1

ml1=

4

l

2

4l2

⇒

l

1

l

2

=

4

m

⇒l1l2=4m ....(2)

From (1) and (2)

m

16

=

4

m

m16=4m

⇒

m

2

=

64

⇒m2=64

⇒

m

=

8

⇒m=8