AP Physics 1 5.3: Torque on Rigid Systems

Describe torques on a rigid system by combining force magnitude, lever arm, point of application, and direction relative to the rotation axis.

[Maximum number: 3]

(12 points, suggested time 25 minutes)
The left end of a uniform beam of mass M and length L is attached to a wall by a hinge, as shown in Figure 1. One end of a string with negligible mass is attached to the right end of the beam. The other end of the string is attached to the wall above the hinge at Point 1. The beam remains horizontal. The hinge exerts a force on the beam of magnitude $F_{\mathrm{H}}$ , and the angle between the beam and the string is $\theta=\theta_{1}$ .

The following rectangle represents the beam in Figure 1. On the rectangle, draw and label the forces (not components) exerted on the beam. Draw each force as a distinct arrow starting on, and pointing away from, the point at which the force is exerted.

Figure 2

For drawing the gravitational force at the center of the beam that is directed downward For drawing the tension force at the right end of the beam that is directed upward and leftward

For a diagram with three force vectors that represent a system in equilibrium

Example Response

Figure for Answer to Question 5.3.B—Describe the torques exerted on a rigid system question 1 — AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based

Scoring Note: Examples of appropriate labels for the gravitational force include $F_{G}, F_{g}$ , $F_{\text {grav }}, W, m g, M g$ , "grav force," F Earth on beam," " F on beam by Earth," $F_{\text {Earth on Beam }}, F_{\mathrm{E}, \text { Beam }}$ , or $F_{\text {Beam }, \mathrm{E}}$ . The labels G or g are not appropriate labels for the gravitational force.

Scoring Note: Examples of appropriate labels for the normal force include $F_{n}, F_{N}, N$ , "normal force," or "wall force."

Scoring Note: Examples of appropriate labels for the tension force include $F_{\text {string }}, F_{\mathrm{s}}, F_{T}$ , $F_{\text {Tension }}$ , "string force," or "tension force."

Total for part (a)

3 points

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5.3.B—Describe the torques exerted on a rigid system question 1