Finding Tension in a String Holding a Meter Stick Against a Wall

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a meter stick held against a wall by a string, focusing on calculating the tension in the string and exploring how changes in string length affect this tension. The subject area includes concepts of forces, torque, and equilibrium in physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the forces acting on the meter stick, including the weight and the tension in the string. There is a question about the role of the wall's forces, particularly whether it exerts a vertical force and the implications of friction.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants questioning the assumptions about the forces involved and the setup of the problem. Some guidance has been offered regarding the need to consider all forces acting on the stick, but there is no explicit consensus on the approach to take.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the complexities of the forces involved, including the potential for friction and the implications of different string lengths on tension. There is an indication that the original poster's understanding may need clarification regarding the forces at play.

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Homework Statement


A 0.13 kg meter stick is held perpendicular to a wall by a 2.7 m string going from the wall to the far end of the stick.
(a) Find the tension in the string.
(b) If a shorter string is used, will its tension be greater than, less than, or the same as that found in part (a)?
(c) Find the tension in a 2.0 m string.


Homework Equations



Torque=Nr?

The Attempt at a Solution


I discovered the angle to be 68.38 degrees, and I thought that, since the y-component of the force cancels out mg, T=mg/sin(theta). Why is it wrong?
 
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The string tension is not the only force (besides the weight) acting on the stick.
 
I know that the wall exerts a horizontal force, but that doesn't matter in the Fy equation.
 
But the vertical force it exerts does.
 
wait... how does it exert a vertical force? Is there a friction force?
 
proace360 said:
wait... how does it exert a vertical force? Is there a friction force?
There better be. But you need not worry about the wall force to solve this problem.
 

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