Drawing free body diagrams (torque; rotational motion)

[Janet1234]

Homework Statement

A 500-N person stands 2.5 m from a wall against which a horizontal beam is attached. The beam is 6 m long and weighs 200N (see diagram below). A cable attached to the free end of the beam makes an angle of 45 degrees to the horizontal and is attached to the wall.

Homework Equations

I'm not sure what is the force R mean in the answer, and why is it pointing in an angle theta instead of perpendicular to the wall.

The Attempt at a Solution

I drew a normal force at the end of the beam perpendicular to the wall, which is apparently not the right answer haha.

 

[ehild]

Homework Statement

A 500-N person stands 2.5 m from a wall against which a horizontal beam is attached. The beam is 6 m long and weighs 200N (see diagram below). A cable attached to the free end of the beam makes an angle of 45 degrees to the horizontal and is attached to the wall.

Homework Equations

I'm not sure what is the force R mean in the answer, and why is it pointing in an angle theta instead of perpendicular to the wall.

The Attempt at a Solution

I drew a normal force at the end of the beam perpendicular to the wall, which is apparently not the right answer haha.

Hi Janet, welcome to Physics Forums!
The beam is attached to the wall by a pivot, and the pivot can act with force at an angle.

 

[CWatters]

+1

Its not hard to see why that force must have a vertical component - if it didn't the beam would fall down.