59. A simple lever is used to lift a heavy load. When a 60-N
force pushes one end of the lever down 1.2 m, the load
rises 0.2 m. Show that the weight of the load is 360 N.
since mass * distance is the same, and the heaver mass only rises 1/6 as far, it is 6 times the mass, or 360N
To determine the weight of the load, we can use the principle of moments, which states that the moment exerted on one side of a lever is equal to the moment exerted on the other side.
In this case, the moment exerted by the force pushing down the lever (60 N) can be calculated by multiplying the force by the distance from the fulcrum (center point of the lever) to the point of application of the force (1.2 m). Similarly, the moment exerted by the load can be calculated by multiplying the weight of the load by the distance from the fulcrum to the load (0.2 m).
Using the principle of moments, we can set up the equation:
Force x Distance = Load x Distance
60 N x 1.2 m = Load x 0.2 m
Simplifying the equation gives us:
72 N•m = 0.2 m x Load
Now we can solve for the weight of the load by dividing both sides of the equation by 0.2 m:
Load = 72 N•m / 0.2 m
Load = 360 N
Therefore, the weight of the load is 360 N.