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Physics Rotational Mechanics Level: High School

Rotational Equilibrium

A house painter is standing on a uniform , horizontal platform that is held in equilibrium by two cables attached to supports on the roof . The painter has a mass of 77 kg and the mass of the platform is 20.5 kg. The distance from the left end of the platform to where the painter is standing is d = 2.0 m and the total length of the platform is 5.4 m .

a) How large is the force exerted by the left-hand cable on the platform ?

b) How large is the force exerted by the right-hand cable ?