Static Equilibrium and tension of a beam

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a uniform beam in static equilibrium, supported by a cable and hinged to a wall. The beam's weight and length are provided, along with the maximum tension the cable can withstand. The objective is to determine the height at which the cable is attached relative to the beam.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of torque and the forces acting on the beam, including gravity and tension. There are inquiries about the location of the gravitational force and the setup of the torque equation.

Discussion Status

Some participants are exploring the concept of torque and its application to the problem, while others are questioning the forces involved and how to properly set up the equilibrium conditions. Guidance has been offered regarding the calculation of torques and the role of hinge forces.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the need for a free body diagram and the importance of identifying all forces acting on the beam, as well as the requirement for the sum of torques to equal zero for equilibrium.

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Homework Statement


In the figure below, a uniform beam of weight 520 N and length 3.4 m is suspended horizontally. On the left it is hinged to a wall; on the right is it supported by a cable bolted to the wall at distance D above the beam. The least tension that will snap the cable is 1200 N.

What value of D corresponds to that tension?


Homework Equations


\Sigma\tau = 3.4m(520N) + ?



The Attempt at a Solution


I'm not really sure what to put in after what I have put in already.
I know it's conservation of torque but that's about it..
 
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At what point on the beam does gravity act? Draw a free body diagram and put in all the forces. Then say that the sum of all the torques is zero.
 
I know that gravity acts on the beam at 1.7m but I'm not seeing how I'm supposed to set the sum of the torques equal to zero..but that's probably because I'm not sure what forces are acting upon the beam besides gravity and the tension from the cable.
 
There is a force at the hinge that has horizontal and vertical components Fx and Fy. If you calculate torques about the hinge, they do not contribute to the net torque. However gravity and the tension must exert equal and opposite torques about the hinge if this beam is to be in equilibrium.
 

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