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Torque1 Class Exercise KEY

This document contains two physics problems involving torque. The first problem asks about the torque exerted by a crab trap being lowered over a dock, and the force exerted by a weed on a gardening tool. The second problem involves determining the mass and center of mass of a student lying on a scale-supported plank. It uses equations involving torque, forces, and center of mass to solve for the unknown values.

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111 views

Torque1 Class Exercise KEY

This document contains two physics problems involving torque. The first problem asks about the torque exerted by a crab trap being lowered over a dock, and the force exerted by a weed on a gardening tool. The second problem involves determining the mass and center of mass of a student lying on a scale-supported plank. It uses equations involving torque, forces, and center of mass to solve for the unknown values.

Uploaded by

e
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Physics 151 Class Exercise: Torque 1

1. Straightforward Torque Problems


(a) A person slowly lowers a 3.3 kg crab trap over the side of a dock as shown. What torque does
the trap exert about the persons shoulders?
To counteract the torque created by the weight of the trap (and neglecting
the weight of the arm and rope), the torque exerted about the shoulder must
be

= r mg = (0.70 m)(3.3 kg) 9.81

m
= 23 N m
s2

(b) The gardening tool shown here is used to pull weeds. If a 1.23 Nm torque is required to pull a
given weed, what force did the weed exert on the tool?
We need to think about Newtons third law here. If the tool
is exerting a force on the weed, the week is exerting an equal
and opposite force on the tool.
Just before the weed comes out, the system is in
static equilibrium. So summing torques about the pivot
point where the tool touches the ground yields:

pivot = Fw (0.040 m) 1.23 N m = 0


Fw =

1.23 N m
= 31 N
0.040 m

Note that we are assuming that static equilibrium prevails. The force the gardener exerts on the tool
and the force the weed exerts on the tool cause equal and opposite torques about the pivot. Thus, if
the gardener pulled just a little bit harder the weed would come out.

2. To determine the location of this center of mass, a physics student lies on a lightweight plank
supported by two scales 2.50 m apart as shown below. If the left scale reads 290 N, and the right
scale reads 122N, find (a) the students mass and (b) the distance from the students head to his
center of mass.

x2
xcg

(a)

Fy = F1 + F2 mg = 0

F + F2 290 N + 122 N
m= 1
=
= 42 kg
g
9.81 m2
s

leftend = x2 F2 xcg mg = 0
(b)

F2

F1

x F
(2.50 m)(122 N)
xcg = 2 2 =
= 0.74 m
mg
m
(42 kg) 9.81 2

mpsg

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