Question

A 135 kg scaffold is 6.60 m long. It is hanging with two wires, one from each end. A 440 kg box sits 1.70 m from the left end. What is the tension in the left hand side wire?(g = 9.8 m/s2)

Answer 1

Explanation:

mass of scaffold, m = 135 kg

mass of box, m' = 440 kg

let the tension in the left wire is T.

take moments about the right end.

According to the diagram,

135 x g x 3.3 + 440 x g x (6.6 - 1.7) - T x 6.6 = 0

4365.9 + 21128.8 - T x 6.6 = 0

T x 6.6 = 25494.7

T = 3862.8 N