Solve Mechanics Problem: Man in Ditch, Force on Man at Depth h

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In summary, the problem involves a man who has fallen into a ditch of width d and is being pulled out by two friends using a rope and pulleys. The force acting on the man when he is at a depth h inside the ditch needs to be determined. To solve this problem, one must consider factors such as the man's weight, his position in the ditch, and the tension in the rope. Clarifying the question is also important in order to determine the net force acting on the man.
  • #1
quantum brain
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Homework Statement


a man has fallen into a ditch of width d.he is pulled by two of his friends who are on either side of the ditch.the friends pull the man using a rope which is joined to the man and the two pulleys.find the force acting on the man when he is at a depth h inside the ditch.

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution

 
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  • #2
Hi Quantum, well before anyone suggests any solutions to this problem you should try and have a go at solving this yourself then once you have tried, if you havnt got the correct answer then people can give you some assistance. I would suggest go away and draw down on a diagram the situtation. Things that you need to consider are:

The man in the ditch:
- His weight (mg)
- his depth into the ditch
- his position horizontaly in the ditch, is he right in the center or is this also variable as the question doesn't specify
- also is this rope supposed to be one long rope, looped though a hole on the mans clothes somewhere or are they two separate ropes as it may make a difference in certain situations

The rope:
- if you weren't aware, the rope can be modeled as having a tension, in the cases of this question we can model the tensions in the rope(s) directed away from the man.

note that that list may not be a complete list of all the things you have to consider, but most should be there, and it depends on how sophisticated you want to make the model of this scenario.

I think also you need to clarify what the question is asking, as if you wanted to know the net force acting on the man at a depth d, then one could argue that the net force acting on him is 0N as he may not be moving up. So have a think about that, really try to come up with a solution yourself, clarify the question if only so that you know what your actually trying to find out, then if you really can't get it, tell us what you have attempted and we will be more than happy to help you further :D as the aim here is not to tell you the answer, but to help you reach an understanding about how to get the answer ;-)
 
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  • #3


To solve this problem, we can use Newton's second law of motion, which states that the net force on an object is equal to its mass multiplied by its acceleration. In this case, the man is at a constant depth h, so his acceleration is zero. Therefore, the net force on the man is also zero.

However, we also need to take into account the forces acting on the man. Since he is being pulled by two friends on either side of the ditch, there will be a tension force from the rope pulling him towards one side and an equal and opposite tension force from the rope pulling him towards the other side. These two tension forces cancel each other out, resulting in a net force of zero on the man.

In summary, the force acting on the man at a depth h inside the ditch is zero, as all the forces acting on him cancel each other out. It is important for the friends to coordinate and pull with equal force to ensure the man's safety and prevent any additional force from being applied on him.
 

1. What is the equation for calculating the force on a man at a certain depth in a ditch?

The equation for calculating the force on a man at a depth h in a ditch is F = ρghA, where ρ is the density of the fluid in the ditch, g is the gravitational acceleration, h is the depth at which the man is located, and A is the cross-sectional area of the ditch.

2. How does the density of the fluid in the ditch affect the force on the man?

The density of the fluid in the ditch directly affects the force on the man. A denser fluid will exert a greater force on the man, while a less dense fluid will exert a smaller force.

3. Does the gravitational acceleration affect the force on the man at different depths in the ditch?

Yes, the gravitational acceleration does affect the force on the man at different depths in the ditch. As the man descends deeper into the ditch, the gravitational acceleration will increase, resulting in a greater force on the man.

4. How does the cross-sectional area of the ditch impact the force on the man?

The cross-sectional area of the ditch is directly proportional to the force on the man. A larger cross-sectional area will result in a greater force on the man, while a smaller cross-sectional area will result in a smaller force.

5. Can this equation be applied to other scenarios besides a man in a ditch?

Yes, this equation can be applied to other scenarios where an object is submerged in a fluid. As long as the depth, density of the fluid, and gravitational acceleration are known, this equation can be used to calculate the force on the object.

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