# Mechanics

#1
A uniform rod AC, of weight W and length 3l, rests horizontally on two supports, one at A and one at B, where AB= 2l. A particle of weight 2W is placed on the rod at a distance x from A. The rod remains horizontal and in equilibrium.

(a) find the greatest possible value of x.

The magnitude of the reaction of the support at A is R. Due to a weakness in the support at A, the greatest possible value of R is 2W.

(b) find the least possible value of x.

I tried understanding how it's solved from the ms, but it was fruitless. Can anyone explain to me how and why it's solved that way?
0
4 years ago
#2
If you hadn’t already ALWAYS draw a diagram for this kind of stuff if you haven’t done so already. I personally can’t be bothered rn to draw and attach a photo of one so I’m visualising but to understand you definitely should and also I might muck up by not drawing one.

I can’t see the mark-scheme so idk what it says there but this is how I’d approach it.

a) So the greatest possible value of x is how far along the rod the weight can be without the whole thing tilting. The maximum point is when it’s in limiting equilibrium, so anti-clockwise moment = clockwise moment and the whole thing will be about to tilt about B so B bears all of the weight which is 3W.
So taking moments about A: 1.5l(W)+ x(2W) = 2l(3W)
2xW = 4.5Wl
x = 2.25l

b) Ok so I just said reaction at A is 0 but that was when x was as far along as possible. Now we’re finding x so the weights as close to A as possible, without the reaction at A becoming more than 2W which would cause it to break. So we need to find when it’s exactly 2W, and therefore reaction at B is exactly W.
So taking moments about A: 1.5l(W)+ x(2W) = 2l(W)
2xW = 1.5Wl
x = 0.75l
1
#3
(Original post by TheTree0fDeath)
If you hadn’t already ALWAYS draw a diagram for this kind of stuff if you haven’t done so already. I personally can’t be bothered rn to draw and attach a photo of one so I’m visualising but to understand you definitely should and also I might muck up by not drawing one.

I can’t see the mark-scheme so idk what it says there but this is how I’d approach it.

a) So the greatest possible value of x is how far along the rod the weight can be without the whole thing tilting. The maximum point is when it’s in limiting equilibrium, so anti-clockwise moment = clockwise moment and the whole thing will be about to tilt about B so B bears all of the weight which is 3W.
So taking moments about A: 1.5l(W)+ x(2W) = 2l(3W)
2xW = 4.5Wl
x = 2.25l

b) Ok so I just said reaction at A is 0 but that was when x was as far along as possible. Now we’re finding x so the weights as close to A as possible, without the reaction at A becoming more than 2W which would cause it to break. So we need to find when it’s exactly 2W, and therefore reaction at B is exactly W.
So taking moments about A: 1.5l(W)+ x(2W) = 2l(W)
2xW = 1.5Wl
x = 0.75l
would you mind explaining what is limiting equilibrium?
0
4 years ago
#4
(Original post by Mme_Bonii)
would you mind explaining what is limiting equilibrium?
So equilibrium is when it’s not moving or turning. Resultant moment is zero. Limiting equilibrium is when its not moving or turning but it’s about to move or turn. In this case I’m talking about the point where if the weight moves any further along it will no longer be in equilibrium and the whole thing will turn.
0
X

new posts
Back
to top
Latest

### Oops, nobody has postedin the last few hours.

Why not re-start the conversation?

see more

### Poll

Join the discussion

#### Does school Maths prepare people well enough for the future?

Yes, it gives everyone a good foundation for any future path (49)
30.25%
Somewhat, if your future involves maths/STEM (71)
43.83%
No, it doesn't teach enough practical life skills (40)
24.69%
Something else (tell us in the thread) (2)
1.23%
{"found_math": false, "script_math_tex": 0, "script_math_asciimath": 0, "math_annotations": 0, "math_alttext": 0, "mathml": 0, "mathjax_tag": 0, "mathjax_inline_tex": 0, "mathjax_display_tex": 0, "mathjax_asciimath": 0, "img_math": 0, "codecogs_latex": 0, "wp_latex": 0, "mimetex.cgi": 0, "/images/math/codecogs": 0, "mathtex.cgi": 0, "katex": 0, "math-container": 0, "wp-katex-eq": 0, "align": 0, "equation": 0, "x-ck12": 0, "texerror": 0}