A 70 kg painter is painting the wall of a building. He stands on a horizontal board of length 4.7 m and mass 15 kg, suspended from vertical ropes attached to each end. If the painter stands 2.0 m from one end of the board, what would the tensions in the ropes be?

Question

Near rope:
Far rope:

Answer 1

T1 + T2 = (70 + 15)*g is one equation you need.

For the other equation, set the moment about either end equal to zero. If the painter stands 2 m from end 1,

T2*4.7 - M(board)*g*2.35 - M(painter)*g*2 = 0

Solve for T2. Then use the f1rst equation for T1.