Mass of chair on weighing scale and wall

In summary, the problem involves a chair resting on a weighing scale and a wall, with relevant surfaces perpendicular to each other. The scale reports a weight of 42.62 kg when upright and 26.82 kg when flipped upside-down. The chair makes contact with the scale at 0.4 m from the wall at an angle of 64 degrees. The frictional coefficients between the chair and the wall and the chair and the scale are 1.02 and 1.16, respectively. Using the equations for weight and force, the mass of the chair is calculated to be 69.44 kg.
  • #1
dmouthfan2028
4
0
For what it's worth, I came up with this problem, so perhaps it cannot be solved, or there could be a way to solve it without using all of the information given.

Homework Statement
A chair rests on a weighing scale and a wall. The relevant surfaces of the scale and the wall are perpendicular to each other. When upright, the scale reports 42.62 kg as its weight, but when flipped upside-down, the scale reports 26.82 kg. The chair makes contact with the scale at 0.4 m from the wall at an angle of 64 degrees. Frictional coefficient between the chair and the wall is 1.02, and between the chair and the scale is 1.16. What is the mass of the chair?
 
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  • #2
dmouthfan2028 said:
When upright, the scale reports 42.62 kg as its weight...

A correction:
When upright, the scale reports 42.62 kg as its mass...
 
  • #3
Have I figured it out? Is this correct?

[itex]F_{gOnScale} = 42.62*9.81[/itex]
[itex]F_{gOnWall} = 26.82*9.81[/itex]
[itex]F_{T} = F_{gOnScale} + F_{gOnWall} = 42.62*9.81 + 26.82*9.81 [/itex]
[itex]F_{T}/a_{g} = \frac{42.62*9.81 + 26.82*9.81}{9.81} = 69.44\text{ kg}[/itex]
 

1. What is the purpose of weighing a chair on a weighing scale and against a wall?

The purpose of weighing a chair on a weighing scale and against a wall is to determine the mass of the chair. Weighing the chair on a scale will provide an accurate measurement of the chair's weight, while weighing it against a wall will allow us to calculate its mass by using the force of gravity and the angle at which the chair is leaning against the wall.

2. How does the mass of a chair affect its weight on a weighing scale?

The mass of a chair directly affects its weight on a weighing scale. The weight of an object is equal to its mass multiplied by the force of gravity. Therefore, the heavier the chair's mass, the more it will weigh on the scale.

3. Is it more accurate to weigh a chair on a weighing scale or against a wall?

Both methods can provide accurate measurements of the chair's mass. However, weighing the chair on a scale is typically more precise as it eliminates the potential for human error when measuring the angle of the chair against the wall.

4. Can the mass of a chair change over time?

The mass of a chair can change over time due to factors such as wear and tear, additions or subtractions of material, or changes in the environment (e.g. humidity causing the wood to expand or contract). However, if the chair remains in the same condition, its mass should remain constant.

5. How can the mass of a chair on a weighing scale or against a wall be useful in a scientific experiment?

The mass of a chair can be used as a control variable in a scientific experiment to ensure that all other variables are held constant. It can also be used to make comparisons between different chairs or to determine the effects of added weight to the chair. Additionally, knowing the mass of a chair can provide valuable information for engineering or design purposes.

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