Minimum u to keep ladder from slipping

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a uniform ladder leaning against a frictionless wall at a specified angle, with a person standing on it. The objective is to determine the required coefficient of friction at the floor to prevent slipping, given the mass of the ladder and the person.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate the normal force and torque but expresses uncertainty about their calculations, particularly regarding the torque equation. Some participants question the trigonometric functions used in the calculations, suggesting a potential misunderstanding of the angle's placement.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging in checking assumptions and clarifying the setup of the problem. There is a focus on correcting the trigonometric approach, with suggestions made to reconsider the angle used in calculations. No consensus has been reached yet, and the discussion remains open.

Contextual Notes

There is ambiguity in the problem statement regarding the angle of the ladder with respect to the floor, which has led to confusion in the calculations. The original poster's calculations yield a coefficient of friction that significantly exceeds the expected value, indicating a possible error in their approach.

Nikita23
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I've read similar posts and have tried the problem several times but don't get the right answer.

Homework Statement


A uniform ladder with a mass of 15 kg leans against a frictionless wall at a 65 degree angle. Find the required friction coefficient (u) at the floor that will allow a 100kg person to stand 2/3 of the way up the ladder without slipping.

The answer is .301 but I get u is 1.38.


Homework Equations


t = r x f fg = 9.8 m


The Attempt at a Solution


Force of friction = force of wall

Normal force = fg of the ladder + fg of the person = 15*9.8 + 100*9.8 = 1127N

torque = 0 = torque of ladder + torque of person - torque of wall = 15*9.8*cos(25)*(1/2) + 100*9.8*cos(25)*(2/3) - (Force of wall)*cos(65)
I solved for Force of Wall to be 1558.7 N (I know that's wrong because it's supposed to be less than the normal force)

Force of friction = force of wall = 1558.7 = u*Fn = u*1127 u = 1.38



I think I messed up in the torque equation but I don't know exactly where. Help?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Check your trig: Why are you using cos(25) to find the torque due to the weights?
 
Doc Al said:
Check your trig: Why are you using cos(25) to find the torque due to the weights?

Switching the cos and the sin gives the right answer. I guess i misunderstood the placement of the 65 degree angle
 
Nikita23 said:
I guess i misunderstood the placement of the 65 degree angle
I assume that the ladder is 65 degrees with respect to the floor--but it's not clearly specified in the problem statement.
 

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