sHatDowN said:
M = (353.55*5.12) - (353.55*2.12) = 1060.65
So you are splitting the applied force into its vertical and horizontal components. You computed the torque from the vertical component by multiplying by the horizontal component of the moment arm for the point of application (
5.12, 2.12). By inspection, this is a counter-clockwise torque.
You computed the torque from the horizontal component by multiplying against the horizontal moment arm to the same point of application (5.12,
2.12). This time the torque is clockwise, so it will subtract.
That is a viable approach. Straight, by the book, crank and grind.
The approach that I took was different.
The torque from a given force is the same no matter where that force is applied, as long as the revised point of application is somewhere along the "line of action" of the original force.
The drawing makes it clear that the line of action passes through the point (3.00, 0). That simplifies the math. Now the vertical moment arm is zero and we need only consider the vertical force component of 353.55 and the horizontal moment arm of 3.00:$$3.00 * 353.55 = 1060.65$$By inspection, this is a
clockwise counter-clockwise torque.