A uniform ladder of length 10.0 m and mass 16.0 kg rests against a frictionless vertical wall, forming an angle of 37^ with the wall. The ground is rough. An electrician weighing 60.0 kg climbs the ladder and remains at a distance of 8.00 m from the lower end. Determine the normal force and the force of friction exerted by the ground on the ladder, as well as the minimum coefficient of friction required for the elect

Step-by-step solution

Let N_g be the normal force exerted by the ground, f be the frictional force, and N_w be the normal force exerted by the frictionless wall. Balancing the vertical forces: N_g = m_l g + m_e g N_g = (16.0 + 60.0) 9.8 = 76.0 9.8 = 744.8 N 745 N Balancing the horizontal forces: f = N_w Taking torque about the lower end of the ladder. The ladder makes an angle of 37^ with the vertical wall, so the perpendicular distances for the weights are proportional to (37^ ) and for the normal force from the wall is proportional to