Math Problem Statement
A ladder of weight 390 N and 6 m long is placed against a vertical wall at an angle of 300 as shown in figure. The coefficient of friction between the ladder and the wall is 0.25 and that between ladder and floor is 0.38. Find how high a man of weight 1170 N can ascend, before the ladder begins to slip.
Solution
To solve this problem, we will analyze the forces and torques acting on the ladder and apply the conditions of static equilibrium.
Assumptions:
- The ladder is uniform and has a length of .
- The ladder forms an angle of with the horizontal.
- The weight of the ladder is , acting at its center of gravity (midpoint of the ladder).
- The coefficient of friction between the ladder and the wall is , and between the ladder and the floor is .
- The man has a weight of , and he can ascend a certain distance before the ladder begins to slip.
Steps:
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Identify Forces Acting on the Ladder:
- : Normal reaction force at the wall.
- : Frictional force at the floor.
- : Normal reaction force at the floor.
- : Frictional force at the wall.
- The weight of the ladder acts at the center of the ladder (3 m from both ends).
- The weight of the man acts at a distance from the bottom of the ladder.
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Conditions for Static Equilibrium:
- Translational equilibrium: The sum of forces in both the vertical and horizontal directions must be zero.
- Rotational equilibrium: The sum of torques about any point must be zero.
Let's denote the length of the ladder as and the angle it makes with the floor as .
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Vertical Force Balance:
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Horizontal Force Balance: The horizontal forces consist of the frictional force at the floor and the normal force at the wall:
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Frictional Forces:
- At the floor:
- At the wall:
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Torque Balance: Taking torques about the point where the ladder touches the ground, we can write:
Substituting , , and solving for , the distance the man can ascend before the ladder slips:
Also, from the horizontal force balance , so .
Substituting this into the torque equation:
Thus, the man can ascend approximately 0.754 meters before the ladder begins to slip.
Would you like further clarification or additional details on this process?
Follow-up Questions:
- What would happen if the coefficient of friction at the wall increased?
- How would the result change if the ladder's weight increased?
- What is the impact of increasing the angle of the ladder with the ground?
- How does decreasing the friction coefficient at the floor affect the distance the man can climb?
- What is the effect of moving the ladder closer to the vertical position?
Tip:
The higher the coefficient of friction between surfaces, the more stable the ladder becomes, allowing a greater distance for the man to climb.
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Statics
Forces
Torque
Friction
Formulas
Sum of vertical forces: R_f = W_ladder + W_man
Sum of horizontal forces: F_f = F_N
Friction force at the floor: F_f ≤ μ_f * R_f
Friction force at the wall: F_w ≤ μ_w * F_N
Torque equilibrium: F_N * L * sin(θ) = W_ladder * (L/2) * cos(θ) + W_man * x * cos(θ)
Theorems
Conditions of Static Equilibrium
Torque Balance
Suitable Grade Level
Grade 11-12 (Physics)
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