Calculating Static Equilibrium for Ladder Climb

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the maximum height a window cleaner can climb on a ladder without it slipping, one must analyze the forces acting on the ladder, including weight, normal reaction, and friction. A free body diagram is essential for visualizing these forces and understanding the torque involved. The torque is calculated about the point where the ladder touches the ground, considering the ladder's angle and the coefficients of friction. By equating the forces and moments, one can determine the critical point at which the ladder will begin to slip. Properly applying these principles will yield the maximum climbing height for the window cleaner.
PhysicsDud
Messages
24
Reaction score
0
I'm not sure how to go about doing this question. Any help would be great.

A window cleaner of mass 95 kg places a 22-kg ladder against a frictionless
wall, at an angle 65° with the horizontal. The ladder is 10 m long and rests on a
wet floor with a coefficient of static friction equal to 0.40. What is the maximum
length that the window cleaner can climb before the ladder slips?

Thanks!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Try taking moments about a point.
 
Draw a free body diagram and then find what force is enough for the ladder to slip. Here torqueplays the role. You take a general point on the ladderabove its centre. Find normal reaction, friction, torque, etc. And then equate them with the distance from centreas variable.
 
Sorry here centre of axis is not the centre of ladder, it is the poit at which it touches the surface..
 
Thanks

Thanks so much for the help!
 
Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Starting with the mass considerations #m(t)# is mass of water #M_{c}# mass of container and #M(t)# mass of total system $$M(t) = M_{C} + m(t)$$ $$\Rightarrow \frac{dM(t)}{dt} = \frac{dm(t)}{dt}$$ $$P_i = Mv + u \, dm$$ $$P_f = (M + dm)(v + dv)$$ $$\Delta P = M \, dv + (v - u) \, dm$$ $$F = \frac{dP}{dt} = M \frac{dv}{dt} + (v - u) \frac{dm}{dt}$$ $$F = u \frac{dm}{dt} = \rho A u^2$$ from conservation of momentum , the cannon recoils with the same force which it applies. $$\quad \frac{dm}{dt}...
View full post »

Similar threads

Force of the wall against the ladder is from static friction?
Replies
6
Views
3K
Normal force at the base of a ladder
Replies
20
Views
2K
A ladder against a wall problem
Replies
5
Views
2K
Direction of force exerted by ground for the ladder problem
Replies
2
Views
3K
Static equilibrium of window cleaner
Replies
1
Views
2K
Angle of Inclination Homework: Find θ at Ladder's Verge of Slipping
Replies
9
Views
2K
Static equilibrium & force of friction
Replies
11
Views
7K
A simple static equilibrium problem
Replies
13
Views
3K
How Do You Calculate Torques for a Ladder in Static Equilibrium?
Replies
2
Views
2K
Static Friction -- A ladder leaning against a wall starts to slip
Replies
13
Views
6K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top