Why Does the Bar Exert More Force Than the Gymnast's Weight?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on a gymnast hanging from a bar, weighing 50 kg, which translates to a downward force of 500 N due to gravity. The upward force indicated by the bar is 550 N, leading to confusion about the apparent discrepancy with Newton's third law, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Two interpretations arise: one suggests that the upward force includes the weight of the bar itself, while the other posits that the gymnast is momentarily accelerating upwards, causing a deflection in the bar. The net force calculations show a difference of 50 N, indicating an upward acceleration. Understanding these forces is crucial for interpreting the gymnast's dynamics correctly.
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Homework Statement


I am trying to understand a diagram I have of a gymnast hanging from a bar. She weighs 50kg and is not swinging, just hanging. In the diagram it has her weight as 500N (using 10/m/s/s for gravity * 50kg) but the bar she is hanging from has an upward arrow with 550 N next to it. I interpret this to mean that the bar is exerting 550N of upward force against the gymnast. However I thought for every action there is an opposite reaction. Wouldn't this mean the bar is only exerting 500N up from the gymnast given here downward force is 500N ?

The object of the diagram is for people to interpret the net force on the gymnast.

Homework Equations


550N - 500N = 50N

or 500N - 500N = 0N

The Attempt at a Solution

 
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Two possibilities:

The arrow is indicating an upward force on the bar from its supports. That would imply the bar itself weighs 50N.

The gymnast, though not swinging, is bouncing vertically. At the instant shown, the bar is deflected downwards and the gymnast is accelerating upwards.
 
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