How to find the same angle in different orientations?

  • Thread starter Thread starter eggshell
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Angle
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around understanding the placement of angles in a free body diagram related to a statics problem. The original poster seeks clarification on the reasoning behind the orientation of the 30-degree angles in the context of a tilted coordinate system.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the reasoning for the angle placements in relation to the coordinate axes and gravitational force. Questions arise about recognizing the relationship between the angles in the free body diagram and those in the original picture.

Discussion Status

Some participants provide insights into the choice of coordinate axes and their alignment with forces. The discussion is ongoing, with multiple interpretations being explored regarding the recognition of angle equivalence.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of the problem being from a graded homework assignment, which may impose certain constraints on the discussion. The context of the problem being related to statics is also noted.

eggshell
Messages
1
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



This is from a homework that's already been graded, and this is the solution:

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg842/scaled.php?server=842&filename=angler.jpg&res=medium

I just want to know the reasoning behind the placement of the the 30 degree angles in the free body diagram given only the original picture.



The Attempt at a Solution



The only reasoning that I can see is that if you readjusted the axis to it's more typical x and y directions, then the force resulting from gravity acting on the object would overlap the -x axis. So by tilting the coordinate axis 30 degrees, a 30 degree angle forms between the G force and the NB force, because the G force always points directly down. Is there a better proof for this? Am I wrong in my reasoning for the placement of that angle? If it is relevant, this is for a statics class.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
The coordinate axes are chosen, for expediency, so as to coincide with the normal forces at points A and B. It just so happens that the L-shaped bracket is tilted by 30° from the horizontal.
 
I know why the coordinate axes are tilted in the way that they are, but my question is how does one recognize that the 30 degree angle (in the free body diagram) is the same angle as the one shown in the picture.
 
eggshell said:
I know why the coordinate axes are tilted in the way that they are, but my question is how does one recognize that the 30 degree angle (in the free body diagram) is the same angle as the one shown in the picture.

The coordinate system is rotated by 30°. The direction of "down", in which the gravitational force is directed, remains unchanged, so the coordinate system is rotated with respect to this direction.

attachment.php?attachmentid=43915&stc=1&d=1329252500.gif
 

Attachments

  • Fig1.gif
    Fig1.gif
    10.5 KB · Views: 563

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
3K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
6K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K