A Stepladder Consists of Two Halves That Are Hinged at the Top

question 28

Multiple Choice

A stepladder consists of two halves that are hinged at the top and connected by a tie rod which keeps the two halves from spreading apart. In this particular instance, the two halves are 2.5 m long, the tie rod is connected to the center of each half and is 70 cm long. An 800-N person stands 3/5 of the way up the stepladder, as shown in the figure. The ladder is light enough that we can neglect its weight, and it rests on an extremely smooth floor. What is the tension in the tie rod? (Note: To solve this problem, it is helpful to imagine cutting the ladder in half vertically and consider the forces and torques acting on each half of the ladder.)

• A) 140 N
• B) 240 N
• C) 280 N
• D) 360 N
• E) 560 N

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Definitions:

Load Devices

Equipment or components that consume electrical power in a circuit, typically transforming it into another form of energy like light, heat, or motion.

Field Input Devices

Devices that provide input to control systems from the physical environment, including sensors, switches, and buttons.

Internal Input Instructions

Specialized instructions in a PLC program to manipulate internal bits or flags that are not directly linked to physical inputs.

Central Processing Unit

The primary component of a computer or digital system that performs the interpretation and execution of instructions.