Chapter 1: Q80P (page 365)
Pyramid Builders. Ancient pyramid builders are balancing a uniform rectangular slab of stone tipped at an angleabove the horizontal using a rope (Given figure). The rope is held by five workers who share the force equally.
- If , what force does each worker exert on the rope?
- As increases, does each worker have to exert more or less force than in part (a), assuming they do not change the angle of the rope? Why?
- At what angle do the workers need to exert no force to balance the slab? What happens ifexceeds this value?
Short Answer
- the force which each worker exert on the rope when is . Where is the weight of the slab.
- Each worker has to exert less force.
- The angle which the workers need to exert no force to balance the slab is .