- #1
Abu
- 39
- 16
Homework Statement
A meter stick with a mass of 260 g is supported horizontally by two vertical strings, one at the 0-cm mark and the other at the 90-cm mark
A) What is the tension in the string at 0 cm
B) What is the tension in the string at 90 cm
C) The string at the 90-cm mark is cut. What is the tension in the remaining string immediately afterwards
Homework Equations
Torque = f*d
wt = mg
The Attempt at a Solution
I already attempted the question and managed to solve parts A and B correctly. I can show the work for those two parts if required, but the problem that I cannot seem to solve is part C.
I'm going to refer to the 0cm string as T1 and the 90cm string as T2.
When T2 is cut, the tension force supplied by that string disappears. What I attempted to do was simply solve for torque as if T2 no longer existed.
As a result, I did:
0.5(2.548) = 1.274 for the torque acting on the 0cm point of the meter stick.
Looking at the correct answer supplied in the back of the textbook, this method was wrong. My main issue is my inability to use what I learned about static equilibrium and the rules regarding torque that apply to that. Since the second string is cut, the system is no longer in equilibrium.
If anyone has any hints for me to get started on regarding this, I would very much appreciate it. Thank you so much.