Question

A non-self-supporting ladder set up with the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is one-half of the working length of the ladder?

Answer 1

Use Newton's second law to determine the normal reaction and friction forces on the ladder at its base.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this problem, we can use Newton's second law to find the normal reaction and friction forces on the ladder at its base.

Step 1:

Determine the forces acting on the ladder. The weight of the ladder, W, acts vertically downward. The normal reaction force, N, acts vertically upward. The friction force, f, acts horizontally at the contact point between the ladder and the ground.

Step 2:

Write the equations of motion for the ladder in the horizontal and vertical directions. In the horizontal direction, the friction force is equal to the force of static friction, which is given by f = µN, where µ is the coefficient of static friction.

Step 3:

Solve the equations of motion to find the unknowns. The normal reaction force can be found by summing the forces in the vertical direction and setting the sum equal to zero. The friction force can be found by substituting the value of the normal reaction force into the equation for friction.

By following these steps, you can find the values of the normal reaction and friction forces on the ladder at its base.