Why does the centre of gravity shift when a rod is displaced?

AI Thread Summary
When a rod is displaced, the normal reactions at its supports change, with one support experiencing greater force due to the shift in the center of gravity. The system remains in rotational equilibrium, and analyzing the torque about the center of gravity helps clarify the changes in normal reactions. A qualitative explanation suggests that the displacement causes more mass to be supported by one cylinder, leading to unequal normal reactions. When the rod is not displaced, the center of gravity is centrally located, resulting in equal normal reactions. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for analyzing stability in such systems.
andyrk
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In the first attachment, the normal reactions are equal. But when the rod is displaced a slight distance x towards the right (second attachment), the normal reactions change to R1 and R2 with R2 being greater than R1. Why is that?
 

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Hi andy

The plank and the cylinders are in rotational equilibrium . Can you write down the torque equation for the plank about G ? This should give you the answer you are looking for :smile: .
 
Tanya Sharma said:
Hi andy

The plank and the cylinders are in rotational equilibrium . Can you write down the torque equation for the plank about G ? This should give you the answer you are looking for :smile: .
Yes it worked. Thanks for that. But is there a qualitative explanation to it too? Something like: The CG shifted which made more mass come on top of one cylinder than the other...? Similarly, is there some qualitative explanation to why the normal reactions are equal when the plank is not displaced?
 
I don't know :oldsmile:
 

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