In: Physics
A beam resting on two pivots has a length of L = 6.00 m and mass M = 91.0 kg. The pivot under the left end exerts a normal force n1 on the beam, and the second pivot placed a distance ℓ = 4.00 m from the left end exerts a normal force n2. A woman of mass m = 51.0 kg steps onto the left end of the beam and begins walking to the right as in the figure below. The goal is to find the woman's position when the beam begins to tip.
(b) Where is the woman when the normal force
n1 is the greatest?
(c) What is n1 when the beam is about
to tip?
(d) Use the force equation of equilibrium to find the value of
n2 when the beam is about to
tip.
(e) Using the result of part (c) and the torque equilibrium
equation, with torques computed around the second pivot point, find
the woman's position when the beam is about to tip.
x = m
(f) Check the answer to part (e) by computing torques around the
first pivot point.
x = m
Except for possible slight differences due to rounding, is the
answer the same?