Drag is friction that opposes movement through a fluid like liquid or air. The amount of drag depends on the shape and speed of the object with slower objects experiencing less drag than faster objects and more aerodynamic objects experiencing less drag than those with a large leading surface area.

To balance this lever the torques on each side of the fulcrum must be equal. Torque is weight x distance from the fulcrum so the equation for equilibrium is:

R_ad_a = R_bd_b

Solving for d_b, our missing value, and plugging in our variables yields:

d_b = \( \frac{R_ad_a}{R_b} \) = \( \frac{50 lbs. \times 1 ft.}{5 lbs.} \) = \( \frac{50 ft⋅lb}{5 lbs.} \) = 10 ft.

Mechanical advantage is resistance force divided by effort force:

MA = \( \frac{F_r}{F_e} \) = \( \frac{80 lbs.}{20 lbs.} \) = 4

The more mass a substance has the more force is required to move it or to change its direction. This resistance to changes in direction is known as inertia.

Mechanics deals with motion and the forces that produce motion.