How do I find theta for calculating torque in a given situation?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Fischercr
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary
To calculate torque about point B, the equation used is M = P * r * sin θ, where M is the moment. The user is trying to find the angle θ, which is crucial for determining the magnitude of force P needed to achieve a specific torque of -80 Nm. The teaching assistant indicated that θ could be 120°, but the user is confused about how to derive this value. It's clarified that θ represents the angle between the force vector and the line from the pivot point to the point of force application. Understanding this relationship is essential for correctly applying the torque equation.
Fischercr
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Thread moved to HH from the technical forums, so no HH Template is shown
I failed this quiz, and I'm trying to understand b. I need to calculate the magnitude of force P which is necessary to create the same moment (I think it's torque in English?) about point B, knowing that alpha is 10 degrees. The moment in part a was -80Nm.

I now understand that I should have used the following equation:
M (about point B) = P * r * sin θ
80 Nm = P (0.5m) sin θ

However, I don't understand where theta is. How do I find theta in general for this equation? My TA wrote 120°, but I don't understand how to get this number. My FBD is below, and I wrote my guess at where θ is, but my guess can't be correct. Help me find theta, please.

upload_2015-10-17_11-38-33.png


upload_2015-10-17_11-39-7.png
 

Attachments

  • upload_2015-10-17_11-41-20.png
    upload_2015-10-17_11-41-20.png
    20.3 KB · Views: 503
Physics news on Phys.org
It doesn't matter if you use 60° (which you indicated in the sketch as angle between AB and the force) or 180°-60° = 120°, the sine of the angle is the same in both cases.
 
Thank you for your reply, mfb.

So in the equation
Moment (in French) = F * r * sin θ
θ is the angle between F and r?
 
Sure.

Torque is the English word.
 
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

Similar threads

  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
1K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
686
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
777
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
3K
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
899
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
1K