What happens when the mass is balanced in a lever?

When the mass is balanced in a lever, the lever remains in equilibrium. This means that the torques (or moments) acting on both sides of the lever are equal, resulting in a stable condition where the lever does not tip or move. In physics, equilibrium is defined as a state where all forces and moments are balanced, leading to no net force or angular acceleration.

In a balanced lever, the point of balance (the fulcrum) experiences equal forces from the masses on either side, effectively cancelling each other out. This allows the lever to stay horizontal and stable. When the lever is in equilibrium, it can remain stationary or be in a state of uniform motion, but the critical aspect is that it does not tip or become unstable.

In contrast, tipping or instability occurs when the masses on either side of the lever are unequal, causing one side to exert more torque and leading to motion away from equilibrium. Therefore, the answer that describes the balanced state accurately is that the lever remains in equilibrium, which reflects the fundamental principles of levers in physics.