- #1
Andres Padilla
- 13
- 3
Homework Statement
Hello, I have a problem I don't want how to approach, it is a little weird. It is a problem of equilibrium (torque)
The situation and my approach is in the picture I uploaded. A beam is supported by the blue structure. On the beam it is a person(100N) at a distance of 3m in
the overhang part. In order to avoid that the beam turns over, it is placed a counterweight of mass M in the middle of the supported part. The goal is to find
the needed mass of the counterweight.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Homework Equations
T net=0
Fy net=0
The Attempt at a Solution
My approach: Since 2m of the beam is supported by a structure, I think the structure will produce a distrubuted load of reaction, but that does not matter since we can
use use a single reaction in the middle of the distributed load ( at 1m from the end in this case, as I showed in the figure). The problem is the next:
If I apply torque in the red point ( the point under the counterweight), only the 100N will exert a torque, which is wrong because the system must be in equilibrium.
I would get that -400 N.m =0 If I apply torque in the blue point (at the right end of the blue support structure), all forces will exert torque. I set up my equation and I got -300-R-M=0
Then I find the second equation with the summation of forces, and I got R=100+M. For last I replaced this last equaqtion into the first to find M.
But again I got -400 N.m = 0.
I do not think I've forgotten some reaction force somewhere ... I am thinking right now that I don't have to take into account that reaction force in that way, because once the beam starts to turn over, the normal force (reaction force) will vanish. I meant, I will only have a reaction force in the "pivot ( blue point
in the drawing)". In that case the problem will be very easy to solve, but I am not sure of that approach. The second image I uploaded shows that approach.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.