Balancing Forces: Solving 2 Problems

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around two physics problems related to balancing forces. The first problem involves beams supporting a weight and the forces exerted on a well, while the second problem concerns a bird landing on a sagging telephone wire and the associated tension and weight calculations.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants suggest drawing diagrams and constructing vectors to analyze the forces involved. There are inquiries about resolving vectors into components and using geometric relationships to find angles and tensions.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with various approaches being explored. Some participants are offering guidance on how to visualize the problems and consider the forces at play without reaching a consensus on specific methods or solutions.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working within the constraints of the problems as posed, with no additional information provided. The nature of the homework context implies that complete solutions should not be given.

Hollysmoke
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I'm having trouble with two problems and I was hoping if someone could point me in the right direction go about solving them:

1) Two beams support a 4.0kg pail of water above an open well. How much compression force is exerted on each beam by the water pail, what outward force do the two beams exert on the well's wall, and what additional vertical compression is exerted on the bricks under the beams?

2) A bird lands on a telephone wire midway between the two poles 18m apart. The wire (assumed weightless) sags by 52 cm. If the tension in the wire is 90N, what is the mass of the bird?
 
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draw the situation and then construct appropriate vectors to answer you the questions.
 
For the second question, should I resolve the vectors into x and y then use the distances to find sigma t?
 
I think the forces on the bird are the tensions its weight, resultant is zero, use the length of wire and the sag to fing the angle.
 

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