Calculating Center of Gravity and Force for a Flagstaff

In summary, the problem involves determining the center of gravity of a flagstaff with a length of 10m by using a vertical force F at the thin end and a horizontal force 4F at the thick end to keep it in horizontal balance. The task is to find the center of gravity and the force F when the mass of the flagstaff is 250kg. Through taking moments about the wall and using the formula for moment about a point, the total moment about the top of the wall can be determined and equated to 0, allowing for the calculation of x, the distance from the wall to the center of gravity. By setting the two resulting equations equal to each other and solving for x, the center of gravity can be determined
  • #36
Multiply one equation by a number so that the same amount of F is in both equations … then just subtract the equations … that gets rid of (eliminates) F! :smile:
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #37
Found another (easy) way to solve it :)

thin end 1/5* 10= 2
thick end 4/5*10= 8
So the gravity of force is 2m from the thick end and 8m from the thin end.
So now you can reveal your way that Iv tryed to understand for 4 days now :)
 
  • #38
Newton86 said:
Found another (easy) way to solve it :)

thin end 1/5* 10= 2
thick end 4/5*10= 8

hmm … but where did you get 1/5 and 4/5 from?
 
  • #39
tiny-tim said:
hmm … but where did you get 1/5 and 4/5 from?

Forces. 4+1 = 5F
4/5 in the thick end
1/5 in the thin end :blushing:

It is correct isn't it ?
 
  • #40
Yes, of course it's correct! :smile:

But which equations did you get it from?

You say …
Newton86 said:
4+1 = 5F

(I assume you mean 4F + F = 5F)

… but these forces are not applied at the same time, so what is your justification for adding them? :confused:

(… and what would you do if the wall was not at the end of the flagpole, but was 1m from the end, either on one or both occasions? :wink: )
 
  • #41
I don't see why I cant:confused:
And I don't know about that but I need to get the task done so I need to do the way I can :wink: But I would like to see your ways of doing it caus its probably a better and "safer" way.
 
  • #42
:smile: ok …
Newton86 said:
That make sense :)
1: 0 + xW -10F
2: (10-x)W + 40F then ?

Multiply the first equation by 4:

4xW = 40F​

Combine it with the second equation:

(10-x)W = 40F​

and you get:
4xW = (10-x)W

so 5xW = 10W

so x = 2 :smile:

(suppose the wall was 1m from the end on both occasions … then it would be 4(x-1)W = (9-x)W, so 5xW = 13W, so x = 2.6)

What worries me is why you couldn't see that :frown: :confused:

You have to be able to solve these equations.
 
  • #43
Yeah I should =| But I believe I learned a bit from it.
Thanks for your time:smile:
 

Similar threads

  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
2
Views
1K
Replies
6
Views
776
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
14
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
1
Views
819
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
11
Views
1K
Replies
22
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
893
Back
Top