Question

A cat walks along a plank with mass M= 7.00 kg. The plank is supported by two sawhorses. The center of mass of the plank is a distance d1= 0.850 m to the left of sawhorse B. When the cat is a distance d2= 1.11 m to the right of sawhorse B, the plank just begins to tip.If the cat has a mass of 3.6 kg, how far to the right of sawhorse B can it walk before the plank begins to tip?

Answer 1

Answer:

Before the plank will tip cat will walk 1.652 m

Explanation:

Mass of the cat along with plank $m_1=7kg$

Center of mass of the plank $d_1=0.850m$

Mass of cat $m_2=3.6kg$

We have to find how far right of sawhorse B.

Plank will tip when weight of the cat about B is greater than the torque by the weight of the plank.

Balancing the the torque

$m_1gd_1=m_1gd_2$

$7\times 9.8\times 0.850=3.6\times 9.8\times d_2$

$d_2=1.652m$