Struggling with Torque Problems?

[hshphyss]

Can anyone help me with these problems? they are really stressing me out, thanx

1) The arm of a crane is 20.0 m long and makes an angle of 25.0° with the horizontal. Assume that the maximum load for the crane is limited by the amount of torque the load produces around the base of the arm.
What is the maximum torque the crane can withstand if the maximum load is 445 N?

I know that torque=fr sintheta, but this isn't as straight forward as it looks.

2.) A mechanic jacks up a car to an angle of 8.0° to change the front tires. The car is 3.20 m long and has a mass of 1160 kg. Its center of mass is located 1.12 m from the front end. The rear wheels are 0.40 m from the back end. Calculate the torque exerted by the car around the back wheels.

I know that to find the lever arm it's going to be cos8 2.4=-0.349. So then to find the torque it would be (870 kg)(9.8)(-0.349)=T The force would be the mass times 9.8 correct?


3.)A window washer is standing on a scaffold supported by a vertical rope at each end. The scaffold weighs 208 N and is 2.80 m long. What is the force each rope exerts on the scaffold when the 675 N worker stands 1.00 m from one end of the scaffold? (smaller force and larger force)

 

[Astronuc]

1) One is given the maximum load, from which one calculates the maximum torque. Using the load, which acts in the vertical, calculate the component of the load which is normal (perpendicular) to the boom.

2) Weight (force) of the car, W = mg, acts at the center of mass about the pivot point.

3) The force (or tension) on each rope can be determined by picking one end and calculating the sum of the moments about that end, which should add to zero, since the system is static. Also, the sum of the tensions must equal the suspended weight. Assume the weight of the scaffold acts at its center of mass.

 

[lightgrav]

the angle that you take the sine of sweeps from the r_vector to the F_vector.
In prob#1, this is MORE than 25 degrees.

your calculator seems to be in radian mode in prob.#2,
and the center-of-mass is NOT 2.4m in front of the rear axle.