Answer: 13.703cm from the center of the basket on the end holding the 0.675kg package of hot dog.
Explanation:
The center of the basket is at point 26 cm from each end of the basket.
This is gotten from the evaluation;
52cm/2.
The principle of moments is very important in solving this problem,
"The algebraic sum of all clockwise moments must be equal to he algebraic sum of all anticlockwise moments"
The statement above is the principle of moments.
Now to the question,
Since the acceleration due to gravity is assumed to be equal for all of the masses,
By intuition, the basket would tilt downwards on the end which holds the 1.65kg container of potato salad.
Consequently, to balance the basket 1.85kg container of lemonade must be placed at a distance, x from the center of the basket along the length of the basket (on the end holding the 0.675 package of hot dog).
Therefore, Taking moments about the center of the basket,
(1.65kg×26cm)=(0.675kg×26cm)+(1.85cm×xcm)
Therefore from the expression above, x = 13.703cm from the center on the basket on the side which holds the 0.675kg package of hot dog.
PS: The knowledge of moments of forces is very important in understanding machines especially those which are used for measuring weights relative to other weights.
