Flagpole Stability: Calculating Maximum Tension

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the maximum tension in a guy wire supporting a flagpole subjected to specific forces. A uniform flagpole of 5.00 m length and 195 N weight is hinged to a wall, with a stuntwoman weighing 600 N hanging from the opposite end. The maximum allowable tension in the wire is 1070 N, leading to a calculated minimum height of 4.30 m for the wire attachment point. Additionally, the tension increase when the wire is fastened 0.520 m lower than this point is analyzed using torque equations.

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  • Understanding of torque and equilibrium in static systems
  • Knowledge of trigonometric functions, specifically tangent and arctangent
  • Familiarity with forces acting on rigid bodies
  • Basic principles of mechanics related to tension in cables
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  • Study the principles of static equilibrium in mechanical systems
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  • Explore the use of trigonometric functions in solving real-world physics problems
  • Investigate the effects of varying attachment points on tension in cables
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MAPgirl23
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A uniform, horizontal flagpole of length 5.00 m and with a weight of 195 N
is hinged to a vertical wall at one end. A stuntwoman weighing 600 N hangs
from its other end. The flagpole is supported by a guy wire running from
its outer end to a point on the wall directly above the pole.

a) If the tension in this wire is not to exceed a force of 1070 N, what is
the minimum height above the pole at which it may be fastened to the wall?

b) If the flagpole remains horizontal, by how many Newtons would the
tension be increased if the wire were fastened a distance 0.520 m below
this point?

For a) I got 4.30m by tan(theta) = d/5m solve for theta then for d

How do I solve for b)?
 
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I used theta = arctan(d/x) = arctan(4.3/.52m) = 83.1 but it gives me a rounding off error
 
MAPgirl23 said:
For a) I got 4.30m by tan(theta) = d/5m solve for theta then for d

I used theta = arctan(d/x) = arctan(4.3/.52m) = 83.1 but it gives me a rounding off error
Your new angle is the solution to

tan(theta) = (d-.52m)/5m

where d is the 4,30m from the first part. With your new angle, you can still equate the magnitude of the torque of the wire to the magnitude of the torque of the pole plus the woman.
 

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