Recent content by Bookdigger

I can understand it now, I also watched a youtube video solving a similar question so I think I'm good now, thank you though

mg is the force of gravity pushing down on the plank, Mg is the person pushing down on the plank, r1 is the distance between mg and the pivot point, r2 is the distance between the person and the pivot point, a is the distance the person can walk without tipping the plank

Yup, if the second support (N2) becomes the pivot point then it should make things easier

I also just realized that I tried to solve this question using the wrong method. I thought that both supports should have forces but I just realized that if we're talking about the plank tipping then the first support should have no forces. Sorry if I make no sense, the way I solve equations is...

Sorry about that. F1 and F2 are the forces pushing upwards from the supports, I added them together for my counterclockwise direction, which is where i got (M+m)g since F1=mg and F2=Mg. This is the actual diagram without any labelled forces

I tried solving this and realized that I have no idea what r2 is and I can't just insert an equation there

I'm just someone trying to not fail my physics class and at least understand it a little bit better