Two children hang by their hands from the same tree branch. The branch is straight, and grows out from the tree trunk at an angle of 25.1 degrees above the horizontal. One child, with a mass of 48.4 kg, is hanging 1.28 m along the branch from the tree trunk. The other child, with a mass of 38.4 kg, is hanging 2.23m from the tree trunk. What is the magnitude of the net torque exerted on the branch by the children? Assume that the axis is located where the branch joins the tree trunk and is perpendicular to the plane by the branch and the trunk. _____Nm
Explanation / Answer
Torque by a force=(distance to line of action by theforce)(force) F1=38.4g=376N F2=48.4g=474N distance to line of force for F1 is 2.23m distance to line of force for F2 is 1.28cos25.1=1.16 =376.32(2.23)+48.4(1.159)=895Nm