How Do You Calculate the Tension in the Cable Supporting a Pivoted Steel Bar?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the tension in a cable supporting a pivoted steel bar with a 365 kg mass and a 100 kg bar. The bar is 15 m long, pivoted at a wall 10 m high, with the cable attached 5 m from the lower end at a 60-degree angle. To find the tension, participants emphasize using equilibrium equations, setting up a free body diagram, and applying Newton's second law to analyze forces and torques around a chosen pivot point.

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  • Understanding of equilibrium equations in physics
  • Knowledge of free body diagrams
  • Familiarity with Newton's second law of motion
  • Basic concepts of torque and pivot points
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  • Learn how to construct and analyze free body diagrams
  • Explore torque calculations and their applications in engineering
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Homework Statement


A 365 kg mass is supported on a wire attached to a 15 m long steel bar that is pivoted at a 10 meter vertical wall and supported by a cable. The mass of the bar is 100 kg. (Take right and up to be positive.)
With the cable attached to the bar 5.0 m from the lower end find the tension in the cable. The angle between the wall and the rod is 60 degree.


Homework Equations


equilibrium equations


The Attempt at a Solution


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Setup a free body diagram, with the appropriate forces. You'll most likely need to assume the wire and cables are massless. Now this system is in equilibrium, the net force and net torque is zero. For the net force, divide the forces into components and use Newton's second law of motion. To get the tension, set up appropriate equations with the formulas for net torque. Remember to choose a pivot point. With a well chosen pivot point, you don't need to consider some of the torque.
 

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