Equilibrium Problem - Forces acting on beam supports

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
1 reply · 7K views
8m57w6
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
1. A 160-kg horizontal beam is supported at each end. A 300-kg piano rests a quarter of the way from one end. What is the vertical force on each of the supports?



2. Summation of Forces in the y = 0.



3. Going off the above equation, I *think* it would be that ΣFy=0=Fy-Fg-Fp, which would become Fg+Fp=Fy. However, I am not sure if this logic is correct, and I'm unsure where to go from there.

Any help is greatly appreciated!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
this question involves moments about a point. so firsty you want to draw a diagram of where all the forces are. so you have two supports (call them A and B) and the mass of beam will be halfway between them (0.5L) and the mass of the piano will be a quater the distance from support A( 0.25L).

now you want to take moments about point A, to find the force acting on support B, and then moments about point B, to find the force acting on support A.