Question

A uniform 1.0-N meter stick is suspended horizontally by vertical strings attached at each end. A 2.0-N weight is suspended from the 10-cm position on the stick, another 2.0-N weight is suspended from the 50 cm position, and a 3.0-N weight is suspended from the 60 cm position. What is the tension in the string attached at the 100-cm end of the stick?

Answer 1

3.5 N

Step-by-step explanation:

Let the 0-cm end be the moment point. We know that for the system to be balanced, the total moment about this point must be 0. Let's calculate the moment at each point, in order from 0 to 100cm

- Tension of the string attached at the 0cm end is 0 as moment arm is 0

- 2 N weight suspended from the 10 cm position: 2*10 = 20 Ncm clockwise

- 2 N weight suspended from the 50 cm position: 2*50 = 100 Ncm clockwise

- 1 N stick weight at its center of mass, which is 50 cm position, since the stick is uniform: 1*50 = 50 Ncm clockwise

- 3 N weight suspended from the 60 cm position: 3*60 = 180 Ncm clockwise

- Tension T (N) of the string attached at the 100-cm end: T*100 = 100T Ncm counter-clockwise.

Total Clockwise moment = 20 + 100 + 50 + 180 = 350Ncm

Total counter-clockwise moment = 100T

For this to balance, 100 T = 350

so T = 350 / 100 = 3.5 N