A gymnast with a mass of 54 kg stands on the end of a uniform balance beam as shown in the figure. The beam is 5.00 m long and has a mass of 250 kg. Each support is 0.54m from the end of the beam. What is the force on the beam due to support 2?

Question

A gymnast with a mass of 54 kg stands on the end of a uniform balance beam as shown in the figure.  The beam is 5.00 m long and has a mass of 250 kg.  Each support is 0.54m from the end of the beam.  What is the force on the beam due to support 2?
                     0
----------------------
I1                   I2
0=gymnast
I=support

Anonymous · Answer

Support 2 is at the other end and the gymnast is supposed to be over support 2

Damon · Answer

I am going to assume the gymnast is standing on the end, not over the support2. Otherwise this is trivial.

moments about support 1

2.5 - .54 = 1.96 from middle to support

250(1.96) + 54(2.5+1.96) = F2 (2*1.96)