University Physics

Quiz 8 Solution

Fri Nov 9, 2012

Your name:
Please show your work, write neatly, and put a box or circle around each of your answers.
This week the quiz is also being given in MasteringPhysics with the same problems.
1. (2 points total) A 30.0 kg child sits on one end of a long uniform beam having a mass of
20.0 kg, and a 40.0 kg child sits on the other end. The beam balances when a fulcrum
is placed below the beam a distance 1.10 m from the 30.0 kg child. How long is the
beam?
(a) 1.98 m
(b) 2.07 m
(c) 1.93 m
(d) 2.20 m
(e) 2.12 m
Solution: When the beam is balanced, there is no net torque around any point, including the fulcrum (or pivot point). A sketch of the layout of the beam and corresponding
masses is shown in Fig. 1; the forces are just the masses times g. The distance from the
center of the beam (where its weight acts as a torque) to the fulcrum is d = L/21.10 m.
Calling counter-clockwise torques positive (as weve been doing in class), we then have

Figure 1: Forces and distances along beam for Problem 1.


L
= 0 = (30 kg)g(1.10 m) (20 kg)g
1.10 m (40 kg)g(L 1.10 m)
2
33 kg m = (10 kg)L 22 kg m + (40 kg)L 44 kg m
99 kg m = (50 kg)L
X

L = 1.98 m

choice(a)

Note that this worked even though Fig. 1 was drawn with the fulcrum on the wrong
side of the center of the beam!
2. (4 points total) A 20.0 kg uniform plank is supported by the floor at one end and by a
vertical rope pulling upwards at the other end. A 50.0 kg mass person stands on the
plank a distance three-fourths of the length plank from the end on the floor.
(a) What is the tension in the rope?
(b) What is the magnitude of the force that the floor exerts on the plank?
Solution: The force diagram for this problem is shown in Fig. 2, again where forces
are just the masses times g for the person and the weight of the plank. This is also a
1

Figure 2: Forces and distances along plank for Problem 2.

classic statics problem and was assigned in the homework. Here you have a freedom
to choose the pivot point to calculate the sum of all the torques for each part of the
problem. For part (a), you want to find T , the tension in the rope, and dont care about
the normal force from the floor n. You can therefore choose the pivot point to be where
the plank meets the floor, so the net torque from n is zero. Calling counter-clockwise
torques positive (as weve been doing in class), and calling the plank angle , we then
find
 
 
X
3L
L

= 0 = T sin(90 )L (50 kg)g sin(90 + )

(20 kg)g sin(90 + )
4
2
 
 
3L
L
T L = (50 kg)g
+ (20 kg)g
4
2
 
 
3
1
T = (50 kg)g
+ (20 kg)g
= (47.5 kg)g = 466 N = T
4
2
We can take the same approach, using a pivot point on the plank where the rope attaches
to it, to find the force that the floor exerts on the plank. But there is an easier way!
The sum of all forces in the up/down direction must also be zero! This immediately
gives
X
Fy = 0 n+T (20 kg)g(50 kg)g = 0 n = (70 kg)gT = 220 N = n
3. (4 points total) A particle undergoes simple harmonic motion with an amplitude of
27 cm and a maximum speed of 4.9 m/s.
(a) Find the angular frequency in s1 to two significant figures.
Solution: From p. 10 of the Nov 5 class notes, x = A sin(t + 0 ) and the velocity
is dx/dt = A cos(t + 0 ). The maximum speed is the maximum of dx/dt, or A,
and we are given that this is 4.9 m/s, and the amplitude A =27 cm=0.27 m. So
we have
4.9 m/s
4.9 m/s
A = 4.9 m/s

=
=
= 18 s1 =
A
0.27 m
(b) Find the period in seconds to two significant figures.
Solution: The period is T , where = 2f = 2/T , so
2
2
T =
=
= 0.35 s = T

18 s1
(c) Find the maximum acceleration amax in m/s2 to two significant figures.
Solution: From p. 10 of the Nov 5 class notes, the maximum acceleration is
amax = A 2 = (0.27 m)(18 s1 )2 = 87 m/s2 = amax