A 85 kg scaffold is 6.2 m long. It is hanging with two wires, one from each end. A 440 kg box sits 1 m from the left end. What is the tension in the left hand side wire, in Newtons?(g = 9.8 m/s^2)Looking for the correct final numerical answer and a very short explanation. Thank you so much for your help!!
Fl-Tension in left wire Fr-Tension in the right wire Wire tensions act upwards, gravity forces (mg) act downwards. Look at a free body diagram of the scaffold. Sum the forces, they sum to zero. Fl+Fr-(440+85)g=0 Fl+Fr=525(9.8)=5145 N Sum the moments about the left hand side, they sum to zero (CW is positive). The center of mass of the scaffold is at the center of the scaffold. 440(9.8)(1)+85(9.8)(6.2/2)-Fr(6.2)=0 4312+2582.3-Fr(6.2)=0 Fr=6894.3/6.2=1112 N . . Fl+Fr=5145 Fl=5145-1112=4033 N
