A ladder of mass 20 kg (uniformly distributed) and length 6 m rests against a vertical wall while making an angle of Θ = 60° with the horizontal, as shown. A 50 kg girl climbs 2 m up the ladder. Calculate the magnitude of the total contact force at the bottom of the ladder (Remember:You will need to first calculate the magnitude of N,BOT and f,S).
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Equilibrium in 2D - Ladder Problems
Problem 74
Textbook Question
Two identical, uniform beams are symmetrically set up against each other (Fig. 12–95) on a floor with which they have a coefficient of friction μs = 0.45. What is the minimum angle the beams can make with the floor and still not fall?


1
Identify the forces acting on each beam: the weight of the beam (acting vertically downward at its center of gravity), the normal force from the floor (acting perpendicular to the floor), the frictional force from the floor (acting parallel to the floor), and the reaction force at the point where the beams touch each other.
Set up the conditions for static equilibrium. For each beam, the sum of forces in the horizontal direction must be zero, the sum of forces in the vertical direction must be zero, and the sum of torques about any point must be zero.
Express the frictional force as \( f = \mu_s N \), where \( \mu_s \) is the coefficient of static friction and \( N \) is the normal force. This frictional force prevents the beam from sliding.
Choose a pivot point (e.g., the point where the beam touches the floor) and write the torque equation. Include contributions from the weight of the beam, the normal force, and the reaction force at the point where the beams touch. Use trigonometric relationships to express the distances in terms of the angle \( \theta \) the beam makes with the floor.
Solve the system of equations (force balance and torque balance) to find the minimum angle \( \theta \). The critical condition occurs when the frictional force is at its maximum value, \( f = \mu_s N \).

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Static Friction
Static friction is the force that resists the initiation of sliding motion between two surfaces in contact. It is characterized by a coefficient of static friction (μₛ), which quantifies the maximum frictional force before motion occurs. In this scenario, the beams will remain in equilibrium as long as the static friction can counteract the component of gravitational force acting down the slope of the beams.
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Equilibrium of Forces
For an object to be in equilibrium, the sum of all forces acting on it must be zero. In the case of the beams, this means that the gravitational force acting down the slope must be balanced by the static frictional force. Understanding how to set up the equations for forces acting on the beams at an angle is crucial for determining the minimum angle at which they can remain stable.
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Angle of Inclination
The angle of inclination refers to the angle formed between the beams and the horizontal floor. This angle affects the distribution of forces acting on the beams, particularly the gravitational force component parallel to the floor. By analyzing how this angle influences the balance of forces, one can determine the critical angle at which the beams will begin to slide or fall.
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