What is the force required to hold a pizza peel level with a pizza on it?

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SUMMARY

The force required to hold a pizza peel level with a pizza on it involves calculating the torque and equilibrium of forces acting on the peel. Given a peel length of 1.7m and a mass of 2.4kg, carrying a pizza of 1.1kg, the pizzaiolo must apply a force with his forward hand to maintain balance. The correct approach utilizes the concepts of simple machines, specifically the mechanical advantage (MA) formula, where Fi (input force) and Fo (output force) are calculated based on the combined mass and gravitational force. The final calculations yield a necessary force of approximately 28.25N to keep the peel in equilibrium.

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  • Understanding of torque and equilibrium in physics
  • Familiarity with simple machines and mechanical advantage (MA)
  • Knowledge of force calculations involving mass and gravity
  • Ability to apply trigonometric functions in physical scenarios
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  • Study the principles of torque and equilibrium in static systems
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This discussion is beneficial for physics students, mechanical engineers, and anyone interested in the practical applications of torque and equilibrium in everyday tools like pizza peels.

BensonCa
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Homework Statement


A "peel" is a flat, long-handled shovel that a pizzaiolo uses to slide pizzas into and out of an oven. If a peel is 1.7m long and has a mass of 2.4kg and is carrying a pizza of mass 1.1kg as shown, what force must the pizzaiolo apply with his forward hand to hold the peel level?
upload_2015-12-20_19-37-37.png


2. Homework Equations
Torque= rFsin0


The Attempt at a Solution


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I tried solving this multiple ways, combining the mass 2.4kg + 1.1kg = 3.4kg or adding Fgrav =34.3kg sin theta= 0 since the force applied is up and the only other acting force is gravity which is down, however I also noticed that the position of the pivot (where we hold the shovel is to the right of the mass therefore the sin theta could also equal one and I tried with both of these equations and no success
 
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In your formula for Torque, θ is the angle between the lever arm -- the pivot to where the force is applied, and the downward force produced by gravity on the objects. Like you noticed, if θ=0, everything becomes zero and the math gives you nothing useful.
 
Well I was completely wrong on this entire formula, so this is what I have found out.

the correct area that this belongs to is dealing with the concept of simple machines. MA= li/lo and li Fi= lo Fo
Fi= input force
Fo= output force
li= input lever
lo= output lever

ok so for this problem I did

Fi= (3.5kg combined mass) (9.8g) 0.3(pivot)/1.7(length) =6.05N; then (3.5kg) (9.8g)-6.05N= 28.25N and MA=5.7 (li/lo) though something is wrong here but I'm not sure where I went wrong
 
In order to hold the peel in equilibrium, the ∑F = 0 and the ∑M = 0 on the peel. The Pizzaiolo must apply forces with both hands to keep the peel from flipping, but the problem asks only what force he must apply with his forward hand. Think of this forward hand as the fulcrum and the peel as a lever. See if you can write some equations which describe this situation.
 

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