A window washer is standing on a scaffold supported by a vertical rope at each end. The scaffold weighs 210 N and is 3.30 m long. What is the tension in each rope when the 690 N worker stands 2.30 m from one end?______ N (smaller tension)______ N (larger tension)
assuming the scaffold is uniform weight, take moments around 1 end to get the tension in the rope of the other the ∑M = 0, take the rope tension direction as positive 690 x 2.3 + 210 x (3.3 / 2) = T1 x 3.3 T1 = 586N Now moments around the other end 690 x (3.3-2.3) + 210 x (3.3/2) = T2 x 3.3 T2 = 314N You can check your answers as ∑F = 0, so 586 + 314 - 210 - 690 = 0
