Where did I go wrong (torque/moment problem)

  • Thread starter Thread starter FaroukYasser
  • Start date Start date
Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
1 replies · 5K views
FaroukYasser
Messages
62
Reaction score
3

Homework Statement


24vsbgg.gif

In the figure above, what is the torque about the pendulum’s suspension point produced
by the weight of the bob, given that the mass is 40 cm below the suspension point,
measured vertically, and m = 0.50 kg ? (let g = 10 ms^-2 for easier calculations)

Homework Equations


Torque = force x perpendicular distance to the pivot

The Attempt at a Solution


I first got the components of the Weight force:
hu4qzc.gif

And I got L using trigonometry:
sin60 = 0.4/L
L = 0.4/sin60
L = (4root3)/15 which is about 0.463

Now torque = F x Perpendicular distance =
5cos60 x L = 5cos60 x 0.463 = 1.15 N.m

But the answer is 2 N.m in the textbook! where have I gone wrong?
[/B]
 
on Phys.org
I don't think you've gone wrong, I think the textbook has. It looks like they used the wrong angle or the wrong trig function for the calculation of the force component perpendicular to L. Your result looks okay to me.