Physics 15 Torque (3 of 27) Tension=? in the Cable

Michel van Biezen
11 Jan 201612:04
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script presents a physics problem involving a beam of 250 kg mass held at a 40-degree angle to the horizontal by a string attached to the ceiling, with one end touching the frictionless floor. The problem aims to find the tension in the cable and the normal force exerted by the floor on the beam. Using the principle of torque equilibrium, the video calculates the distances from the pivot point to the lines of action of the forces involved. It then applies trigonometric functions to determine these distances in terms of the beam's length and the angles formed. The tension in the cable is found to be 2744 Newtons, and the normal force (the force the floor exerts on the beam) is calculated to be 703.6 Newtons. This demonstrates that the majority of the beam's weight is supported by the cable, with a relatively small force being exerted on the floor.

Takeaways
  • ๐Ÿ“ The problem involves a beam held at an angle of 40 degrees with the horizontal by a string, with the other end touching the floor.
  • โš–๏ธ The friction between the floor and the beam is assumed to be negligible, allowing for a smooth surface assumption.
  • ๐Ÿงท The beam has a mass of 250 kilograms and the force of gravity acting on it (mg) is a key factor in the calculations.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ The sum of the torques around the pivot point (end of the beam) must equal zero for the static situation.
  • ๐Ÿ“ Distances from the forces to the pivot point (D1 and D2) are calculated using trigonometry based on the angles involved.
  • ๐Ÿค The tension in the cable (T) is found by setting up an equation where the sum of torques equals zero and solving for T.
  • ๐Ÿ“‰ The force on the floor (F) is determined by ensuring the sum of forces in the Y-direction equals zero, considering the weight of the beam and the Y-component of the tension force.
  • ๐Ÿ”ข The cosine of different angles (40 degrees and 70 degrees) is used to calculate the distances D1 and D2 from the forces to the pivot point.
  • ๐ŸŽข The tension in the cable is calculated to be 2744 Newtons, which is a result of the weight of the beam and the angles involved.
  • ๐Ÿก The force exerted by the beam on the floor is found to be 703.6 Newtons, which is significantly less than the weight of the beam due to the tension in the cable.
  • โš™๏ธ The problem-solving approach demonstrates the application of statics principles, including torque and force equilibrium, in a practical scenario.
Q & A
  • What is the mass of the beam in the problem?

    -The mass of the beam is 250 kilograms.

  • What is the assumption made about the friction between the floor and the beam?

    -It is assumed that the friction between the floor and the beam is equal to zero, which means it's negligible and can be ignored in the calculations.

  • At what angle is the beam held with respect to the horizontal?

    -The beam is held at an angle of 40 degrees with the horizontal.

  • What is the significance of the angle between the cable and the beam?

    -The angle between the cable and the beam is 160 degrees, which helps determine the other angles in the problem and is crucial for calculating the torques and forces involved.

  • What is the formula used to calculate the tension in the cable?

    -The formula used is the sum of all the torques about the pivot point (end of the beam) being equal to zero: T * D1 = mg * D2, where T is the tension, D1 and D2 are the perpendicular distances from the lines of action of the forces to the pivot point, m is the mass, and g is the acceleration due to gravity.

  • How is the distance D1 related to the length of the beam and the angles involved?

    -D1 is equal to the length of the beam times the cosine of 70 degrees, which is derived from the geometry of the right triangle formed by the beam, the cable, and the horizontal floor.

  • What is the calculated tension in the cable?

    -The calculated tension in the cable is 2744 Newtons.

  • How is the force exerted by the beam on the floor determined?

    -The force exerted by the beam on the floor is determined by ensuring that the sum of all forces in the Y-direction equals zero, which involves balancing the weight of the beam with the Y-component of the tension force.

  • What is the calculated force exerted by the beam on the floor?

    -The calculated force exerted by the beam on the floor is 703.6 Newtons.

  • Why is the force exerted by the beam on the floor much less than the weight of the beam?

    -Most of the weight of the beam is borne by the cable, resulting in a smaller force being exerted on the floor. This is due to the angles and the distribution of forces as per the problem's setup.

  • What is the significance of the torque equation in solving this problem?

    -The torque equation is crucial as it allows us to calculate the unknown tension in the cable by setting up an equilibrium condition where the sum of torques around a chosen pivot point is zero.

  • How does the problem demonstrate the principle of static equilibrium?

    -The problem demonstrates static equilibrium by showing that in a state of rest, the sum of all torques and forces in each direction must equal zero, which is used to solve for the unknown tension and force exerted on the floor.

Outlines
00:00
๐Ÿ” Static Equilibrium and Torque Analysis

This paragraph introduces a physics problem involving a beam of 250 kg mass, suspended at a 40-degree angle to the horizontal by a string attached to the ceiling, and resting on a frictionless floor. The problem aims to find the tension in the cable and the normal force exerted by the floor on the beam. The approach involves applying the principle of torques summing to zero, selecting an appropriate pivot point (the end of the beam), and considering the forces causing torque about this pivot, including the tension in the cable and the weight of the beam. The weight's center of mass is assumed to be at the beam's midpoint. The solution process involves setting up an equation based on torques and solving for the unknown tension, T.

05:00
๐Ÿ“ Calculating Distances and Tension in the String

The second paragraph delves into the specifics of calculating the distances (D1 and D2) from the forces' lines of action to the pivot point, which are necessary for determining the torques. It explains that D1 is found using the cosine of a 70-degree angle, derived from the geometry of the situation, and D2 is calculated using the cosine of a 40-degree angle, corresponding to the angle between the beam and the horizontal floor. The tension in the string (T) is then found by setting up an equation that the sum of the torques equals zero and solving for T, which yields a value of 2744 Newtons.

10:03
๐Ÿงฎ Finding the Normal Force on the Floor

The final paragraph addresses the calculation of the normal force (F) exerted by the floor on the beam. This is done by considering the forces in the Y-direction and setting up an equation where the sum of these forces equals zero. The normal force F is then found by rearranging the equation to solve for F, taking into account the weight of the beam (mg), and the Y-component of the tension force in the cable (T times the cosine of 30 degrees). The calculation results in a normal force of approximately 703.6 Newtons, illustrating that most of the beam's weight is supported by the cable, with a relatively small force exerted on the floor.

Mindmap
Keywords
๐Ÿ’กTorque
Torque is a measure of the force that can cause an object to rotate about an axis. In the video, torque is essential for understanding how the forces acting on the beam contribute to its equilibrium. The concept of the sum of torques being equal to zero is used to solve for the tension in the cable holding the beam.
๐Ÿ’กStatic Situation
A static situation refers to a scenario where no net force or torque acts on an object, resulting in no acceleration. In the video, the beam is in a static situation, which means the sum of all forces and torques acting on it must be zero, a condition used to set up the equations for solving the problem.
๐Ÿ’กFriction
Friction is the force that opposes the relative motion or tendency of such motion of two surfaces in contact. The script mentions that friction between the floor and the beam is assumed to be zero, simplifying the problem by eliminating friction forces from the calculations.
๐Ÿ’กBeam
A beam is a horizontal or sloping load-bearing element in a structure. In the video, the beam has a specific length and mass, and it's being held at an angle, which is central to the problem being solved. The beam's weight and the forces acting upon it are the main focus of the analysis.
๐Ÿ’กTension
Tension is the force carried by a member subjected to extension. The video aims to find the tension in the cable that is holding up one end of the beam. This is a key unknown in the problem and is determined by balancing the torques around the beam's end.
๐Ÿ’กNormal Force
The normal force is the support force exerted by a surface that supports the weight of an object resting on it. In the context of the video, the normal force is the reactionary force from the floor on the beam, which is also known as the support force and is perpendicular to the floor.
๐Ÿ’กCenter of Mass
The center of mass is the point at which the mass of an object is concentrated for the purpose of calculating gravitational force. In the video, it is assumed that the beam has a uniform density, and thus its center of mass is at the halfway point along its length, which is used to calculate the torque due to the beam's weight.
๐Ÿ’กSum of Forces
The sum of forces in a particular direction must equal zero for an object to be in static equilibrium. In the video, the sum of forces in the Y-direction is set to zero to find the force exerted by the floor on the beam, which is a key step in the problem-solving process.
๐Ÿ’กAngle of Incline
The angle of incline is the angle made by the beam with the horizontal floor. The video specifies that the beam is held at an angle of 40 degrees with the horizontal, which is crucial for determining the components of forces and their respective torques acting on the beam.
๐Ÿ’กCosine
The cosine function relates the angle of a right triangle to the ratio of the adjacent side over the hypotenuse. In the video, cosine is used to calculate the components of forces and distances as they relate to the angles formed by the beam and the forces acting upon it.
๐Ÿ’กNewton's Second Law
Newton's Second Law of Motion states that the net force acting on an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration. Although not explicitly mentioned, the law underpins the concept of static equilibrium where the net force is zero, which is applied to find the unknown forces in the problem.
Highlights

The problem involves finding the tension in a cable and the normal force on a beam using torque and force balance concepts.

The beam has a mass of 250 kg and is held at a 40 degree angle with the horizontal by a cable attached to the ceiling.

Friction between the floor and beam is assumed to be negligible, allowing the reactionary force from the floor to be perpendicular to the beam.

The angle between the cable and the beam is 160 degrees, resulting in a 20 degree angle at the bottom.

The concept of summing torques equal to zero is applied, with the pivot point chosen at the end of the beam.

The tension in the cable and the weight of the beam (mg) are the two forces causing torques about the pivot point.

The center of mass of the beam is assumed to be at its halfway point, making it easier to calculate the torques.

The distances from the line of action of the forces to the pivot point (D1 and D2) are calculated using trigonometry.

The tension in the cable (T) is solved for by setting the sum of torques equal to zero and isolating T.

The force on the floor (normal force) is found by summing the forces in the Y direction and setting it equal to zero.

The Y component of the tension force is calculated using the cosine of the 30 degree angle between the tension force and the horizontal.

The final answers are T = 2744 N (tension in cable) and F = 703.6 N (normal force on floor).

The problem demonstrates how most of the beam's weight is supported by the cable, with only a small force being exerted on the floor.

The problem involves careful selection of pivot points and application of torque and force balance principles.

Trigonometry is used extensively to calculate distances and angles in the problem.

The problem requires a good understanding of statics and the ability to apply fundamental principles to solve complex problems.

The problem illustrates the importance of free body diagrams and the careful labeling of forces and distances.

The problem demonstrates the power of mathematical modeling and the ability to break down complex real-world problems into simpler components.

The problem requires attention to detail and the ability to keep track of different forces, distances, and angles.

Transcripts
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