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

In summary, the question is asking for the weight of a 115-kg football player on a bathroom scale inclined at a 40° angle from the vertical. The scale is screwed into the floor and reads in Newtons. The incorrect attempt at a solution involved using the angle from the horizontal ground as 55 degrees instead of 50 degrees.
  • #1
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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  • #2
90 - 40 = 50. Not 55.
 
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1. How is weight at an angle calculated?

Weight at an angle is calculated using the formula W = mgcosθ, where W is the weight, m is the mass, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and θ is the angle of the incline or slope.

2. What is the significance of the 40° scale reading?

The 40° scale reading represents the angle of the incline or slope on which the football player's weight is being measured. This angle is important in calculating the weight at an angle using the formula mentioned above.

3. Why is the 115kg football player's weight being measured at an angle?

The weight of a football player is often measured at an angle to simulate the forces that the player experiences while playing the sport. This allows for a more accurate representation of the actual weight that the player's body is bearing during physical activity.

4. How does the angle affect the weight of the football player?

The angle of the incline or slope affects the weight of the football player because it changes the direction and magnitude of the force of gravity acting on the player's body. This results in a different weight at an angle compared to the player's weight on a level surface.

5. Is weight at an angle different from regular weight?

Yes, weight at an angle is different from regular weight. Regular weight is measured on a level surface, while weight at an angle takes into account the effects of gravity on an inclined surface. This means that the weight at an angle will usually be less than the regular weight due to the opposing force of the incline or slope.

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