Final answer:
The student's inquiry pertains to the weight distribution of a vehicle and the determination of the center of gravity. Applying the principles of torque and static equilibrium, the CM is located by balancing the moments created by the forces at the front and rear axles.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks about the weight distribution of a vehicle and the location of the center of gravity (CM). The context provided references various forces acting on a car, such as the normal reaction forces on the front and rear axles, as well as how these forces relate to the weight of the car.
The task involves calculating the distance to find where the CM is located relative to the rear axle. This involves applying principles of physics, particularly static equilibrium and torque, to solve for the CM's position.
Using the information given, with 0.52w acting on the front axle and 0.48w on the rear, and taking the rear axle as the pivot point, we can write the torque equilibrium condition τ = F × d, where F is the force and d is the distance from the pivot point.
Given the car rests on a level surface, we can say that the torques due to the weight distribution must balance out. Consequently, if the car’s total weight acts at its CM and 0.52w acts at a distance of 2.5 meters (front axle), we can deduce the CM must be located slightly closer to the front axle, thereby ensuring torque equilibrium. When calculating, we find that the CM is positioned at a distance from the rear axle, which proportionally balances the moments around the pivot point.