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:

  1. The ladder is uniform and has a length of 6m6 \, \text{m}.
  2. The ladder forms an angle of 3030^\circ with the horizontal.
  3. The weight of the ladder is 390N390 \, \text{N}, acting at its center of gravity (midpoint of the ladder).
  4. The coefficient of friction between the ladder and the wall is 0.250.25, and between the ladder and the floor is 0.380.38.
  5. The man has a weight of 1170N1170 \, \text{N}, and he can ascend a certain distance before the ladder begins to slip.

Steps:

  1. Identify Forces Acting on the Ladder:

    • FNF_N: Normal reaction force at the wall.
    • FfF_f: Frictional force at the floor.
    • RfR_f: Normal reaction force at the floor.
    • FwF_w: Frictional force at the wall.
    • The weight of the ladder 390N390 \, \text{N} acts at the center of the ladder (3 m from both ends).
    • The weight of the man 1170N1170 \, \text{N} acts at a distance xx from the bottom of the ladder.
  2. 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 L=6mL = 6 \, \text{m} and the angle it makes with the floor as θ=30\theta = 30^\circ.

  3. Vertical Force Balance: Rf=390N+1170N=1560NR_f = 390 \, \text{N} + 1170 \, \text{N} = 1560 \, \text{N}

  4. Horizontal Force Balance: The horizontal forces consist of the frictional force at the floor and the normal force at the wall: Ff=FNF_f = F_N

  5. Frictional Forces:

    • At the floor: FfμfRf=0.38×1560=592.8NF_f \leq \mu_f R_f = 0.38 \times 1560 = 592.8 \, \text{N}
    • At the wall: FwμwFN=0.25FNF_w \leq \mu_w F_N = 0.25 F_N
  6. Torque Balance: Taking torques about the point where the ladder touches the ground, we can write: FNLsinθ=390L2cosθ+1170xcosθF_N \cdot L \cdot \sin \theta = 390 \cdot \frac{L}{2} \cdot \cos \theta + 1170 \cdot x \cdot \cos \theta

    Substituting L=6mL = 6 \, \text{m}, θ=30\theta = 30^\circ, and solving for xx, the distance the man can ascend before the ladder slips:

    FN6sin30=3903cos30+1170xcos30F_N \cdot 6 \cdot \sin 30^\circ = 390 \cdot 3 \cdot \cos 30^\circ + 1170 \cdot x \cdot \cos 30^\circ 6FN0.5=39030.866+1170x0.8666F_N \cdot 0.5 = 390 \cdot 3 \cdot 0.866 + 1170 \cdot x \cdot 0.866 3FN=1013.22+1014.42x3F_N = 1013.22 + 1014.42 \cdot x Also, from the horizontal force balance Ff=FN592.8NF_f = F_N \leq 592.8 \, \text{N}, so FN=592.8NF_N = 592.8 \, \text{N}.

    Substituting this into the torque equation: 3592.8=1013.22+1014.42x3 \cdot 592.8 = 1013.22 + 1014.42 \cdot x 1778.4=1013.22+1014.42x1778.4 = 1013.22 + 1014.42 \cdot x 765.18=1014.42x765.18 = 1014.42 \cdot x x0.754mx \approx 0.754 \, \text{m}

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:

  1. What would happen if the coefficient of friction at the wall increased?
  2. How would the result change if the ladder's weight increased?
  3. What is the impact of increasing the angle of the ladder with the ground?
  4. How does decreasing the friction coefficient at the floor affect the distance the man can climb?
  5. 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)