Weight at an Angle: 115kg Football Player & 40° Scale Reading

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the weight of a 115-kg football player standing on a scale inclined at a 40° angle from the vertical. The participant initially miscalculated the angle from the horizontal, mistakenly using 55° instead of the correct 50°. The correct approach involves using the formula for weight in Newtons, which is derived from the gravitational force acting on the player, specifically mgcos(50°) for the scale reading. This highlights the importance of accurately determining angles in physics problems.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of basic physics concepts, particularly forces and weight.
  • Familiarity with trigonometric functions, specifically cosine.
  • Knowledge of how to convert mass (kg) to weight (N) using gravitational acceleration.
  • Ability to interpret angles in relation to vertical and horizontal orientations.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the principles of static equilibrium in physics.
  • Learn about the applications of trigonometric functions in force calculations.
  • Explore the concept of inclined planes and their effects on weight measurements.
  • Practice solving similar problems involving angles and forces in physics.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physics students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding the effects of angles on weight measurements in real-world scenarios.

ericka141
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Homework Statement


"You are a 115-kg football player. You go stand on your bathroom scale, but the scale is not perfectly horizontal. It is instead inclined at an angle of 40° from the vertical (which makes it rather hard to stand on, but whatever). The scale is screwed into the floor so it doesn’t slip. The scale is a “proper” physical scale, with the reading in Newtons. What is your weight according to the reading on the scale?"

The Attempt at a Solution


I thought that since the angle from the vertical was 40 degrees, the angle from the horizontal ground would be 55 degrees. Then, I used mgcos55 to try and find the weight on Newtons, as the angle from the horizontal ground fits into this equation. However, my answer was wrong. What is it that I'm doing wrong?
 
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90 - 40 = 50. Not 55.
 
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