Stuck in another static equilibrium problem

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a static equilibrium problem involving a board and a person, focusing on determining the distance from a point where the board will slide. The context includes homework-related queries and attempts at solving the problem using given weights and frictional coefficients.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • The initial post presents a problem statement with specific weights, distances, and a frictional coefficient, seeking to find the distance "d" where the board will slide.
  • One participant, Dory, identifies errors in the original poster's equations, suggesting corrections to the angles used in the summation of forces and the moment arm in the summation of moments.
  • The original poster expresses relief that their method was correct despite the miscalculations and acknowledges the feedback regarding image posting.
  • Dory later corrects a minor detail about the angle used in calculations, noting that it did not affect the final answer.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on the final solution as the original poster is still working through the corrections suggested by Dory. The discussion reflects a collaborative effort to refine the approach rather than a definitive resolution.

Contextual Notes

Participants have noted specific mathematical errors and formatting issues, but the overall problem remains unresolved as the original poster continues to work on the corrections.

Femme_physics
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Homework Statement



At what distance "d", from point "A", the board with the person will slide whereas

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/6139/skkkkkkk.jpg

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Homework Equations



Weight of board = 50 [kg]
Weight of person = 100[kg]
Frictional coefficient between board and pit: Us = 0.4

c = 3[m] b = 4[m] a =10[m]


((The answer is d = 6.47 [m] ))


The Attempt at a Solution



I found all the unknowns, but I don't know how to answer the actual question. They're asking for the distance where the plank would slide with the person...can't see how I find that out...

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/6096/zzzzaf.jpg

Uploaded with ImageShack.us
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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Dory: Excellent work, so far. (1) In your summation(Fx) equation, you used the wrong angles inside your two cosine functions. Check that, and correct that equation. (2) In your summation(MA) equation, you forgot to multiply your last two terms by the moment arm (distance) to those two forces. Correct that mistake.

Make the above corrections, and try again. By the way, please do not post wide images directly to the forum page. Just post a text link to wide images.
 
Ah...so it all comes down to silly miscalculations? I'm glad my method was correct :)

Sorry about the wide images... I got 1600 widescreen so I tend the think the world sees the web like I do :oops:

Many many thanks... I'll work on it!
 
Got it! :D
 
Dory: Excellent work. One thing I forgot to mention is, the angle is 36.87 deg, instead of 36.86 deg. But luckily, this did not change the answer.

By the way, always leave a space between a numeric value and its following unit symbol. E.g., 100 [kg], not 100[kg]. See the international standard for writing units[/color] (ISO 31-0[/color]).
 
Dooly noted... :) thanks
 

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