When Can the Mass of a Suspended Bar Be Ignored in Torque Calculations?

[mdewdude]

Homework Statement

When analyzing the torques on a suspended bar such as meter stic, under what conditions is it acceptable to ignore the mass of the bar itself?

Homework Equations

NONE

The Attempt at a Solution

The only condition that I can find is when the mass of the bar itself is neg liable compared to the other hanging weights. Are there any more conditions that I am missing?

 

[mdewdude]

Would this work as well: if the bar was suspended in the center as the mass of the bar is equal on both sides of the suspension

 

[thomate1]

I would like to clarify that the statement "not needing mass for torque" is not entirely accurate. Mass is a fundamental quantity in the calculation of torque, which is the rotational force applied to an object. However, in certain situations, the mass of the object may be negligible compared to other forces acting on it, and therefore can be ignored in the calculation of torque.

In the specific case of a suspended bar, the mass of the bar itself may be ignored when it is significantly smaller than the other hanging weights on the bar. This is because the torque created by the bar's weight would be much smaller compared to the torques created by the hanging weights. However, if the mass of the bar is not negligible, it must be included in the calculation of torque.

It is important to note that in other situations, the mass of an object may not be negligible and cannot be ignored in the calculation of torque. For example, when analyzing the torque on a rotating object, the mass distribution of the object plays a crucial role in determining the torque. Therefore, it is essential to carefully consider the mass of an object and its distribution when calculating torque in any given scenario.

In conclusion, the statement "not needing mass for torque" should be clarified to "negligible mass can be ignored in some cases when calculating torque." As scientists, it is crucial to accurately represent and understand the fundamental principles and equations involved in any scientific concept.