3. Sailors use a capstan (shown below) to raise and lower the anchor. It takes two sailors located 1 meter from the center to turn the capstan.
How far from the center would one sailor have to be to turn the capstan by himself?
A 1 meter
B. 2 meters
C.3 meters
D. Both B and C would work

To rotate the capstan a certain amount of torque is required, and if each sailor applies a force [tex]F[/tex] at a distance [tex]D[/tex] from the center, then for two sailors the total torque will be

[tex]\tau = 2FD\\[/tex];

therefore, for one sailor to apply the same torque it must be that the torque [tex]\tau_2[/tex] he applies must be equal to the torque that the two sailors applied:

[tex]FD_2 =2FD[/tex]

which gives

[tex]D_2 = 2D[/tex].

and since [tex]D = 1\:meter[/tex],

[tex]\boxed{D_2 = 2\: meters}[/tex]

which is choice B.

3. Sailors use a capstan (shown below) to raise and lower the anchor. It takes two sailors located 1 meter from the center to turn the capstan. How far from the center would one sailor have to be to turn the capstan by himself? A 1 meter B. 2 meters C.3 meters D. Both B and C would work

Respuesta :

Otras preguntas

3. Sailors use a capstan (shown below) to raise and lower the anchor. It takes two sailors located 1 meter from the center to turn the capstan.
How far from the center would one sailor have to be to turn the capstan by himself?
A 1 meter
B. 2 meters
C.3 meters
D. Both B and C would work