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The Problem:

An 8-m-long beam, weighing 14,700 N, is hinged to a wall and supported by a light rope that is attached 2.0 m from the free end of the beam. If the beam is supported at an angle of 30.0° above the horizontal, (a) find the tension in the rope and (b) the reaction force of the wall on the beam.

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My question: I have found part (a), the tension in the rope appears to be 13203.5 N. To solve part b can I move away from torques as use Newton's second law to sum the forces in the $x$ to find the normal force since the beam is not accelerating? Otherwise, how can I solve part (b)?

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The problem is a statics one, where the sum of the forces on the beam equal zero and the sum of the moments about any point equals zero also.

Let say the hinge is point A at the coordinate origin. The rope is at a point B with coordinates $\vec{r}_B = (6\cos( 30^\circ), 6\sin(30^\circ))$. The center of gravity is at a point C with coordinates $\vec{r}_C = (4\cos(30^\circ), 4\sin( 30^\circ))$.

If the weight is $W$, the tension is $T$ and the pivot reaction $A_x$ and $A_y$ then the equations of statics are

$$ A_x - T \cos( 10^\circ) = 0 \\ A_y + T \sin( 10^\circ) - W = 0 \\ 6\cos( 30^\circ ) T \sin( 10^\circ) + 6\sin(30^\circ) T \cos( 10^\circ) - 4\cos(30^\circ) W = 0 $$

which you can solve for $T$, $A_x$ and $A_y$. I can confirm that the tension you found is indeed $T=13,203\,{\rm N}$

Conceptually you are stating that a steady state solution means balance of forces with zero accelerations.

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  • $\begingroup$ Thanks for confirming, my real question is can I sum the forces rather than the torques to find the equal and opposite force the wall has on the beam, since part (b) is asking for this force, if I make my x axis along the length of the beam then the force normal is opposite the T in the x plus the weight in the x directions. Assuming the beam is not accelerating of course. $\endgroup$
    – Leonardo
    Commented Nov 27, 2012 at 6:11
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    $\begingroup$ If you already know $T$ then, you just use the two sum of the forces to get the two reaction components on the pivot. $\endgroup$
    – John Alexiou
    Commented Nov 27, 2012 at 12:51
  • $\begingroup$ Okay, sorry I asked the question twice, you already stated in the first sentence the answer to my question albeit in a fancy way of saying that the net torque is zero about any point, well done. $\endgroup$
    – Leonardo
    Commented Nov 28, 2012 at 8:53

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