In a physical balance working on the principle of moments, when 5 mg weight is placed on the left pan, the beam becomes horizontal. Both the empty pans of the balance are of equal mass. Which of the following statements is correct?

The weighing balance will become horizontal is torque from both the sides about the center is equal. Since an additional weight of 5 mg had to be added on the left side to make the scale horizontal, it means without the weight, the right side was exerting a higher torque.

For both the sides of the scale,

$$τ=Mg\cdot\frac{l}{2}$$ where $$l$$ is the length of each arm.

Thus, without the weight,

$$τ_R>τ_L$$

$$Mg\cdot l_R>Mg\cdot l_L$$ (since both arms have the same mass)

$$\therefore\ l_R>l_L$$