Rotational Torque, Forces, Tipping

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the maximum initial horizontal force that can be applied to a refrigerator without tipping it over. The refrigerator's center of mass is positioned 0.5m above the floor, and the mass is 200kg, with a coefficient of static friction of 0.2. Two different equations yield conflicting minimum force values for tipping: one calculation suggests 980N while the other indicates 392N. There is confusion regarding the definitions of variables L, r, and F, as well as the use of F in different contexts. Clarification is needed on the equations and the conditions under which the refrigerator will tip versus slide.
johnnnnyyy
Messages
16
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A refrigerator has a vertical center of mass .5m above the floor, and a horizontal center of mass of .5m which is in the horizontal center, the mass of the fridge is 200kg. What is the maximum initial horizontal force a machine can apply to the fridge which is at rest for the fridge to slide and not tip? The machaine is applying the force 1.5m above the floor. Coefficient of static friction is 0.2.


Homework Equations



F=umg
F=mgL/2r


The Attempt at a Solution


Minimum force required for refrigerator to tip-
F=mgL/2r: F=(200kg)(9.8)(1)/2(1)=980N
Minimum force required for refrigerator to tip
F=umg: F=(.2)(200)(9.8)=392N
I have no clue how to solve what will happen when a force more than the minimum force is applied by the machine.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I'm not making much sense of your equations. Pls define L, r and F. Are you using F to mean two different things?
You have two calculations for "Minimum force required for refrigerator to tip" leading to two different answers. Is one the descriptions wrong?
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top