What assembly is the ballast which allows you to lift high loads over a long distances?

• A. Counterweight
• B. Boom
• C. Stabilizer
• D. Lead weight

Answer: (A)

A counterweight is the ballast that balances the crane by providing weight on the opposite side of the lifting arm. When you lift a heavy load with a long boom, that load creates a turning moment about the crane’s base. Without counterbalancing, the crane would tip or the structure would be overstressed. The counterweight blocks offset this moment, keeping the crane’s center of gravity within the base and allowing safe lifting at extended reach. The boom is the lifting arm, stabilizers (outriggers) help keep the machine steady during operation, and lead weight isn’t the standard balancing assembly used in cranes.