Equilibrium of a Rod Problem: Find Minimum Distance x

In summary, the problem involves a uniform beam supported by a cable and the force of friction. The cable makes an angle of 30° and the beam has a length of 1.50 m. The coefficient of static friction is 0.420 and the weight of the beam is represented as w. The task is to determine the minimum distance x from point A where an additional weight 2w can be hung without causing the rod to slip at point A. Relevant equations include Ff = μN, Ʃτ = 0, and ƩF = 0. The solution involves setting up equations for x-components, y-components, and moments/torques, and solving for the unknown forces using the coefficient of friction
  • #1
burnst14
53
2
Problem Statement: As shown in the figure below, a uniform beam is supported by a cable at one end and the force of friction at the other end. The cable makes an angle of θ = 30°, the length of the beam is L = 1.50 m, the coefficient of static friction between the wall and the beam is μs = 0.420, and the weight of the beam is represented by w. Determine the minimum distance x from point A at which an additional weight 2w (twice the weight of the rod) can be hung without causing the rod to slip at point A.
9-p-017.gif


Relevant Equations:
Ff = μN
Ʃτ = 0
ƩF = 0

Solution Attempt:
I'm not really sure where to start. Does Fn (normal force) come from the weight of the rod multiplied by cos(30) due to the angle of the cable holding it against the wall? And once I find Fn, I multiply that by μ, giving the upward force of friction. Then, placing the rotational axis at the end of the rod that the cable is attached to (because it's not moving, I can place the axis anywehere) and set Fn equal to the weight of the object being attached multiplied by the distance from the wall. Would that work?
 
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  • #2
You just need to go about the problem systematically.

Write down the equation for x-components of the forces.

Write down the one for y-components.

Then for moments/torques.

You are going to have a bunch of known and unknown forces in those equations. Of those, the normal force at A and friction at A will be related with the coefficient of friction.
 
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  • #3
Okay so:

ƩFy: Ff + FBsin30-2w-w = 0
ƩFx: FN - FBcos30 = 0
Ʃτ: -w(0.75) - 2wxm + FBsin30(1.5)

Is that correct?
 
  • #4
Assuming the third formula ends with " = 0 ", that looks good.
 
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  • #5
Alright so all of that is correct, but now what? We don't have most of those variables and the only ones we can solve for are FF/FN. How do we relate w to FN? Everything has to be in terms of "w" as it stands.

What am I missing?
 
  • #6
Observer that once you relate friction and the normal force, the first to equations can be solved, giving you all the forces in the system. But you still have the third one to satisfy.
 
  • #7
So rewriting ƩFy we get:

μFN - 2w - w = -FBsin30 → -(μFN - 2w - w) = FBsin30

And rewriting ƩFx we get:

FN = FBsin30

We set these equal which gives:

-(μFN - 2w - w) = FN

then

-μFN + 2w + w = FN

then

(-0.420)FN + 2w + w = FN

then

What? Nothing cancels so we can't solve for anything.
 
  • #8
burnst14 said:
And rewriting ƩFx we get:

FN = FBsin30

It was FBcos 30 originally.

then

(-0.420)FN + 2w + w = FN

then

What? Nothing cancels so we can't solve for anything.

How so? Assuming it is correct (which it is not), this is the same as 3w = 1.420 FN. Surely this can be solved for FN.
 
  • #9
Is the answer 0.9275m?
 
  • #10
Oh yeah, so it really doesn't work then.

How so? Assuming it is correct (which it is not), this is the same as 3w = 1.420 FN. Surely this can be solved for FN.

Now I feel really dumb. How do you solve that for anything, but an answer in terms of w?

But back to the problem, I'm at a loss of what to even try. You say relate FN and μ, but I can't.

If I try setting it equal with FN rather than FB...

I get:
FBcos30 = (FBsin30 - 3w) / -μ

Does cos30/sin30 cancel somehow that I'm unaware of? That would help with one of the variables. Actually that would help everything! Waitwaitwaitwaitwait...

[FBcos30] / [FBsin30] = -3w/ -μ

substitute in for μ:

[FBcos30] / [FBsin30] = -3w/ -0.420

Cancel FB and multiply by -0.420:

-0.420(sin30/cos30) = -3w

Divide by -3:

(0.420/3)(sin30/cos30) = w

RIGHT?
 
  • #11
Gank said:
Is the answer 0.9275m?

I don't have the answers. It's a Web Assign, if you'v heard of it. Basically online physics homework that allows for 5 solution attempts.
 
  • #12
The way I did mine was:

We need to find the Fb in terms of w then we can eliminate it from the final answer as all the terms in the torques will have w. So I found 0.42Fn=Ff and that Fn=Fbcos30. From there i found Ff in terms of Fb and then put this into Fy to find Fb in terms of w. From here i substituted this into the torque equation and simplified
 
  • #13
@voko ?
 
  • #14
How many more answer attempts do you have?
 
  • #15
Is there any help available on this thread?
 
  • #16
burnst14 said:
FBcos30 = (FBsin30 - 3w) / -μ

Does cos30/sin30 cancel somehow that I'm unaware of? That would help with one of the variables. Actually that would help everything! Waitwaitwaitwaitwait...

[FBcos30] / [FBsin30] = -3w/ -μ

I think you need to brush up on your algebra skills. When you have ## a F_B = (b F_B + c)/d ##, you should have no problem doing this: $$

a F_B = (b/d) F_B + (c/d)

\\

a F_B - (b/d) F_B = c/d

\\

(a - b/d)F_B = c/d

\\

F_B = \frac {c/d} {a - b/d}

\\

F_B = \frac {c} {ad - b}
$$
 
  • #17
Burnst14 got any answers?
 
  • #18
Gank said:
The way I did mine was:

We need to find the Fb in terms of w then we can eliminate it from the final answer as all the terms in the torques will have w. So I found 0.42Fn=Ff and that Fn=Fbcos30. From there i found Ff in terms of Fb and then put this into Fy to find Fb in terms of w. From here i substituted this into the torque equation and simplified

This approach should work.
 
  • #19
Cheers Voko. Sorry for being quite brash - I get really into problem solving
 
  • #20
Gank said:
The way I did mine was:

We need to find the Fb in terms of w then we can eliminate it from the final answer as all the terms in the torques will have w. So I found 0.42Fn=Ff and that Fn=Fbcos30. From there i found Ff in terms of Fb and then put this into Fy to find Fb in terms of w. From here i substituted this into the torque equation and simplified

There is also another approach, somewhat more complex but "more correct". Note that by letting ## F_f = \mu F_n ## we assume that the friction is maxed out. But we do not really know if it is going to be maxed out at a minimum or at a maximum of ##x##.

So the more correct approach would involve not letting ## F_f = \mu F_n ## just yet, and instead solve the system of three equations in three variables ##F_B, \ F_f, \ F_n ## and one parameter ##x##. Then find the range of ##x## where ## F_f \le \mu F_n ##. You could try that.
 
  • #21
voko said:
I think you need to brush up on your algebra skills. When you have ## a F_B = (b F_B + c)/d ##, you should have no problem doing this: $$

a F_B = (b/d) F_B + (c/d)

\\

a F_B - (b/d) F_B = c/d

\\

(a - b/d)F_B = c/d

\\

F_B = \frac {c/d} {a - b/d}

\\

F_B = \frac {c} {ad - b}
$$

Yes I could do that, but in this case "c" is another variable, "w". So my solution would be in terms of w like I said. Wouldn't it?
 
  • #22
burnst14 said:
Yes I could do that, but in this case "c" is another variable, "w". So my solution would be in terms of w like I said. Wouldn't it?

Yes, you will end up with ##F_B## in terms of ##w##. Which is what you want, because the torque equation is also in terms of ##w##, so you could expect it will cancel out.
 
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  • #23
OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Dang it. I was so focused on solving for a number that I completely forgot about the possibility of substitution and solving it as a system. Wow. Sorry. Okay.
 
  • #24
Okay I'm going to bed, I'll work on this in the morning and post what I got and let you know if I got it correct. Thanks for the patience.
 
  • #25
If absinθ = c
does (asinθ)b = c?
 
  • #26
Nevermind. I just proved it does.
 
  • #27
Alright I got it wrong. Here's what I did:

Using that algebra step, I got:

FB = 1.171w

Then I substituted that in for FB in:

burnst14 said:
Ʃτ: -w(0.75) - 2wxm + FBsin30(1.5)

Giving:

-w(0.75) - 2wxm + (1.171w)sin30(1.5) = 0

Combine like terms and multiply out:

0.13w = 2wx

Divide over:

x = 0.065m

This is wrong according to Web Assign. It seems too small, but who am I to say so. So where did I stray?
 
  • #28
I obtain ## F_B = \frac {3w} {\mu \cos \theta + \sin \theta} \approx 3.473 w ##.
 
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  • #29
Alright I got the right answer using your value. I'm not sure how you got it though. That seems to be new to me.

[cos30-(sin30/-μ)]FB = 3w/-μ

FB = [(-3w/-μ)/(cos30-(sin30/-μ)]

FB = (-3w/-μ)[(1/cos30)-(-μ/sin30)

FB = (3w/μ)(sin30+μcos30/sin30cos30)

FB = (3wsin30+3wμcos30)/(μsin30cos30)

Where do you go from there?
 
  • #30
Also what tool are you using to write your equations? It's much more clearly written.
 
  • #31
burnst14 said:
Alright I got the right answer using your value. I'm not sure how you got it though. That seems to be new to me.

[cos30-(sin30/-μ)]FB = 3w/-μ

FB = [(-3w/-μ)/(cos30-(sin30/-μ)]

This is almost exactly the equation I got. Just multiply the numerator and denominator by ##\mu##.

FB = (-3w/-μ)[(1/cos30)-(-μ/sin30)

This is wrong. You cannot go from ## \frac {a} {b + c} ## to ## a(\frac 1 b + \frac 1 c)##, these are not equal.

As for the tool, click the Quote button on my message, you will see some code there. That code is LaTeX. When you are in (advanced) reply screen, there is a ##\sum## button, which you can use to find codes for whatever math symbol you need. Or you can just search for a LaTex reference online.
 
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  • #32
Alright thank you. Oh okay. I'll use that next time. Thanks for all the help. This forum is great.
 

FAQ: Equilibrium of a Rod Problem: Find Minimum Distance x

1. What is the equilibrium of a rod problem?

The equilibrium of a rod problem involves finding the minimum distance x at which a rod can be suspended from two points without any external forces causing it to rotate or move. This is also known as the center of mass or balance point of the rod.

2. Why is it important to find the equilibrium of a rod?

Finding the equilibrium of a rod is important in various fields such as engineering, physics, and architecture. It helps determine the stability and balance of structures, as well as the distribution of weight and forces.

3. How is the minimum distance x calculated in this problem?

The minimum distance x is calculated by using the principle of moments, which states that the sum of clockwise moments must be equal to the sum of counterclockwise moments for an object to be in equilibrium. In this problem, the moments are calculated using the weight and distance of the rod from the two suspension points.

4. What are the assumptions made in solving the equilibrium of a rod problem?

The main assumptions made in this problem are that the rod is uniform and has a negligible thickness, the weight of the rod is concentrated at its center of mass, and there are no external forces acting on the rod.

5. Can the equilibrium of a rod problem be solved for any shape or size of a rod?

Yes, the equilibrium of a rod problem can be solved for any shape or size of a rod as long as the assumptions mentioned above are valid. However, the calculations may become more complex for irregularly shaped rods.

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