Static equilibrium of window cleaner

[brookbj]

A window cleaner of mass 95 Kg places a 22 KG ladder against a frictionless wall, at an angle 65 degrees with the horizontal. The ladder is 10 m long and rests on a wet floor with a coefficient of static friction equal to 0.40 What is the maximum length that the window cleaner can climb before the ladder slips.

I know I need to use Torque, in both X and Y directions, but how do I find the length that the painter can climb.

thanks

 

[tiny-tim]

I know I need to use Torque, in both X and Y directions, but how do I find the length that the painter can climb.

Hi brookbj!

(torque doesn't come in x and y directions … it's just a number … or, in 3D, it's a vector in the z direction )

Hint: take moments (torques) about the top of the ladder.