Torque with an arm holding a weight

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wallace13
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Diagram of a human arm bent at the elbow with the forearm horizontal, showing the upper arm bone, flexor muscle, elbow joint, and dimensions 0.0510 m, 0.0890 m and 0.330 m.


A man holds a 169 N ball in his hand, with the forearm horizontal (see the drawing). He can support the ball in this position because of the flexor muscle force M, which is applied perpendicular to the forearm. The forearm weighs 21.4 N and has a center of gravity as indicated.



(a) Find the magnitude of M.

(b) Find the magnitude and direction of the force applied by the upper arm bone to the forearm at the elbow joint.



(Wmuscle*.051)-(21.4*(.089+.051))-(169*.33)= 0

Wmuscle=1152

I got part A correct, but I cannot get part B. I know that The end of the arm (where the ball is) should now be considered the pivot (zero) point.

Here is my attempt:
-(21.4* (.330-.089-.051))+1152- (W elbow*.330)

W elbow= 3503.23N
 
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  • Diagram of a bent human arm showing the upper arm bone, a flexor muscle, the elbow joint and a ball in the hand, with distances 0.0510 m, 0.0890 m and 0.330 m marked.
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wallace13 said:
Diagram of a human arm bent at the elbow showing the upper arm bone, flexor muscle, and elbow joint, with distances labeled 0.0510 m, 0.0890 m, and 0.330 m.


A man holds a 169 N ball in his hand, with the forearm horizontal (see the drawing). He can support the ball in this position because of the flexor muscle force M, which is applied perpendicular to the forearm. The forearm weighs 21.4 N and has a center of gravity as indicated.



(a) Find the magnitude of M.

(b) Find the magnitude and direction of the force applied by the upper arm bone to the forearm at the elbow joint.



(Wmuscle*.051)-(21.4*(.089+.051))-(169*.33)= 0

Wmuscle=1152

I got part A correct, but I cannot get part B. I know that The end of the arm (where the ball is) should now be considered the pivot (zero) point.

Here is my attempt:
-(21.4* (.330-.089-.051))+1152 (you forget to multiply 1152 by the distance to the ball)[/color] - (W elbow*.330)

W elbow= 3503.23N
Alternatively, or as a check, you should just sum all vertical forces to be sure they add to zero.