Finding the Critical Angle for Shelf Gliding: A Statics Problem

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a bookcase with a specified weight and friction force, where a person pulls at the top edge of the shelf at an angle. The objective is to derive an expression for the angle at which the shelf begins to glide rather than tip over.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the forces acting on the shelf, including the normal force and friction. There is an attempt to clarify the calculations related to tipping and gliding forces at different angles. Questions arise about the derivation of a function for the critical angle.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing with participants exploring different aspects of the problem, including the decomposition of forces and the conditions for gliding versus tipping. Some guidance has been offered regarding the relationship between forces and angles, but no consensus has been reached on the exact function needed.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of understanding the forces in both horizontal and vertical directions when determining the conditions for gliding and tipping. There is mention of specific values and calculations that have been verified by the original poster.

NathalieSweden
Messages
3
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



Excuse my english, it is not my first language.
A bookcase has the weight 1500N and is standing at a horizontal floor. The friction force between the floor and the shelf is 600N.
The shelf's height is 1,8mand it is 2m wide. The shelf stands on four feet each 0,01m from the edge. The masscentre is located at the middle of the shelf. A person pulls at the top of one of the shelf's edges. The force creates an angle v with the shelf's side.

I have to form an expression for when the shelf starts gliding, as a function of the angle v.
I will add a file with a pictur that explains the situation.
a2.png

Homework Equations


torque, T=Fxr
Friction, Ff=uN

The Attempt at a Solution


I have calculated the force needed to tip the shelf at v=90degrees: 13500N. Also the force needed to make the shelf start gliding when v=0(paralell)=600N. The force needed to tip the shelf at v=0 is 750N
I have no idea how to form the function.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Oops I posted the image twice...
 
Hello Sweden, welcome to PF :)

My swedish is good enough to see a ##\mu_s=0.4##.
The friction force is ##F_f = \mu_s * F_N##.
##F_N## is the net normal force that compensates mg and the vertical component of the pulling force F
So ##F_f = 600 ## N is only when pulling force F is horizontal (##\theta = {\pi\over 4}## ), which is given in part a).

Were does the 13500 N come from ? Probably part b) 1.9 * 1500 = 0.1 * F
[edit] yes of course, 0.9

ANd you want some function of ##\theta## in part c). That means you have to decompose F in horizontal and vertical components. What kind of function is wanted, my limited swedish doesn't reveal me, so perhaps you want to describe it a bit more extensively ...
 
Last edited:
Yes it comes from b). But it's: 0,1F*0,9*1500. This is correct, the teacher has passed me on a) and b).
Yes that is true. Determine the x and y directed forces for when the shelf glides and tips. Then I am supposed to find the minimum angle where the shelf starts gliding instead of tipping. Do you understand what I mean?
 
"Determine the x and y directed forces for when the shelf glides and tips"

I can't make sense out of that. Can you ? If so, show some steps and indicate where you run into problems...
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
10K
Replies
4
Views
4K
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
21K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
8K