Homework Help Forum: Physics

Posted by Inascent on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 8:50pm.

Pleae help! A uniform 2m long plank is supported at each end by ropes. The plank has a mass of 300grams and a 1 kg weight is attached 0.5m from one end. Find the tension in each supporting rope.

• Physics - drwls, Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 8:57pm

  The total of the tension on both ropes is the total weight of plank and load, W = 1.3 kg * 9.8 m/s^2 = 12.74 N Set the total moment about either end equal to zero and solve for the rope tension T on the opposite end. The tension will be higher on the cable nearest to the 1 kg weight. If moments are taken about the end closest to the mass, and the cable at the opposite end has tension T2, then 0 = T2*2m - 0.3*1.0*g - 1.0*0.5*g Note that the 0.3 kg mass of the plank acts at the center or mass and has a lever arm of 1.0 meter. Solve for T2 and then use T1 + T2 = 12.74 N to get T1.

  
  

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