Scribd
Upload
7 views3 pages

Tutorial 7

This tutorial focuses on the concepts of center of mass, static equilibrium, and torque calculations for extended objects. It includes specific questions and tasks such as calculating the center of mass for a system of masses, analyzing forces and torques on a bar, and drawing free body diagrams for a flag pole scenario. Students are instructed to bring a calculator and work through the problems during the tutorial session.

Uploaded by

Earl Pannila
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
7 views3 pages

Tutorial 7

This tutorial focuses on the concepts of center of mass, static equilibrium, and torque calculations for extended objects. It includes specific questions and tasks such as calculating the center of mass for a system of masses, analyzing forces and torques on a bar, and drawing free body diagrams for a flag pole scenario. Students are instructed to bring a calculator and work through the problems during the tutorial session.

Uploaded by

Earl Pannila
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Phys 101: Tutorial 7.

Center of mass and Static equilibrium of extended objects

Instructions: Print and bring with you to your tutorial. Read it over, but do NOT work on until your
tutorial time. Bring a calculator.

Question 1: Center of Mass:

The center of mass refers to the point where you can consider all of the mass of the object to be
concentrated, so that you can treat the object like a point particle. All the forces that are acting on it
then cause that point to move according to Newton’s 2 nd Law, F = ma. That’s why it’s the ‘center’.

a) Calculate the center of mass of the following system of 3 masses connected by a massless rod.
Mark it on the figure with an ‘x’.

2 kg 1 kg
5 kg

x=0m x=1m x=6m

b) If you were to cut the rod at the location of the center of mass, would ½ the mass be to the left
and the other ½ to the right?

c) Your TA should have brought a meter stick to the tutorial. One member of your group should
support the ruler with their 2 index fingers, one finger on one end and the other on the other
end. Move your fingers slowly (SLOWLY). What happens? Keep sliding your fingers until they
meet. What position on the ruler do they meet at?

d) Draw a free body diagram for the ruler with the index fingers at two support positions on the
ruler. Given what you have drawn, why do you think only one finger slips and moves at time?
Why should they converge at the center of mass?
Question 2: Calculating torques

A force of 10N is applied to a bar that can pivot around the end point “O”. For each situation calculate
the following: the total torque around “O” (including sign), the component of the force perpendicular to
the bar, and the lever arm 𝑟 (draw the lever arm on each picture). Recall that torque is given by either
of the following equations:

𝜏 = 𝑟𝐹 sin 𝜃 or 𝜏=𝑟 𝐹
Question 3: Static equilibrium

A 3m flag pole of mass 2 kg is attached at its midpoint by a rope which makes an angle of 90 degrees to
the pole and is connected to a wall as shown. The flag pole is at 45 degrees above horizontal. The lower
end of the pole is attached to the wall by a hinge as shown. The pole has its mass uniformly distributed
along its length.

(a) In the space above, draw an extended free body diagram for the flag pole.

(b) Find the tension in the rope.

(c) Find the force exerted by the wall on the flag pole's hinge (give separate x- and y-components)

You might also like