Question

The hanger shown in the diagram is balanced. Both cherries weigh the same, both mushrooms

weigh the same, both carrots weigh the same, and all three strawberries weigh the same.
How many grams does the exotic fruit weigh if the total weight of all ten items is 84 grams?

Answer 1

The mass of the exotic fruit is 20 grams.

Explanation:

For the system to be in equilibrium,

i. the resultant of all masses must be zero

ii. the total mass on the left of the hanger must be equal to that on the right

Thus,

84 g = 42 g + 42 g

mass of each carrot = 12 g

mass of each mushroom = 10 g

mass of each cherry = 2.5 g

mass of each strawberry = 5 g

So that;

On the left of the hanger,

(2 x 5) + (2 x 10) + 12 = 42

10 + 20 + 12 = 42

42 = 42

On the right of the hanger, let the mass of exotic fruit be represented by x.

x + 12 + 5 + (2 x 2.5) = 42

x + 12 + 5 + 5 = 42

x + 22 = 42

x = 20 g

The mass of the exotic fruit is 20 grams.