Finding the tension and components

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a horizontal beam weighing 140 N, with its center of gravity located at its center. Participants are tasked with finding the tension in a cable and the horizontal and vertical components of the force exerted on the beam at the wall, while ensuring the beam is in equilibrium.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of Newton's second law and the torque equation, emphasizing the need for a free body diagram to identify forces. There are questions about how to identify and plug in values for angular acceleration and the net torque.

Discussion Status

Some participants have offered guidance on identifying forces and setting up equations for equilibrium. There is an ongoing exploration of the forces acting on the beam, with no explicit consensus reached on the approach to take.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the beam is in equilibrium and that there are five forces acting on it, with some uncertainty about how to categorize and calculate these forces and torques.

cece
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
The horizontal beam in the figure below weighs 140 N, and its center of gravity is at its center.

http://session.masteringphysics.com/problemAsset/1026448/22/yg.10.59.jpg

Find the tension in the cable.

Find the horizontal and vertical component of the force exerted on the beam at the wall.


How would I solve this?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You'll have to use Newton's second law, and Newton's second law for rotation (that is, the torque equation). Note that the beam is in equilibrium, so what can you say about its translational and angular acceleration? Also, you'll want to start by identifying all of the forces on the beam (Hint: There are 5 forces.) Drawing a free body diagram for the forces and for the torque will help you greatly.
 
the formula is t(net external)=I(moment of inertia) x a (angular acceleration). i still don't know how to identify and plug in the values.
 
You should know that Newton's second law [tex]\vec{F}_{NET} = m\vec{a}[/tex] breaks down into:

[tex]F_x = F_1 + F_2 = 0[/tex]

[tex]F_y = F_3 + F_4 + F_5 + F_6 = 0[/tex]

Now all you have to do is identify what these components are.

And you should know that to find the net torque, you simply add the torques due to each force. To make life simple, take the torque about the right end of the beam. If we take counter clockwise to be positive, you'll have:

[tex]\tau_{NET} = F_7(R_7) - F_8(R_8) + F_9(R_9) = 0[/tex]

One of these torques will go to zero. Taking the coordinate system into account, it will be the torque caused my F9. Why is this? Again, you would do well to make a free body diagram. One for the forces, and one for the torques.
 
Last edited:
can you solve it for me, step by step with the correct answer.. so i can understand what your talking about and using the same strategy for the next 5 problems.
 
If I solve it for you, you won't learn anything. But I'll gladly help you work through it. The first step would be drawing a free body diagram, and identifying all of the forces. Here's a hint to get you started: There are five forces, two of them act at the hinge of the beam. Can you tell me what these five forces are, and in which direction they act?
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
6K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
10K