SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES

Introductory Physics I

TUTORIAL SHEET 5 – FORCES, DENSITY AND PRESSURE

1. Consider the diagram below. determine the magnitude of 𝐹1 and 𝐹2 .

2. A uniform beam of length 𝐿 weighs 200 N and holds a 450 − N object as shown below.
Find the magnitudes of the forces exerted on the beam by the two supports at its ends.
Assume the lengths are exact.

3. A uniform, 100-N pipe is used as a lever, as shown below. Where must the fulcrum (the
support point) be placed if a 500 − N weight at one end is to balance a 200 − N weight
at the other end? What is the reaction force exerted by the support on the pipe?

Instructor: Mr. Mvula E.

 4. A ladder leans against a smooth wall, as shown below. (By a "smooth" wall, we mean
that the wall exerts on the ladder only a force that is perpendicular to the wall. There is no
friction force.) The ladder weighs 200 N and its center of gravity is 0.40𝐿 from the base,
where 𝐿 is the ladder's length. (a) How large a friction force must exist at the base of the
ladder if it is not to slip?
(b) What is the necessary coefficient of static friction?

5. A uniform ladder of length ℓ rests against a smooth, vertical wall (see the diagram
below). The mass of the ladder is 𝑚, and the coefficient of static friction between the
ladder and the ground is 𝜇𝑠 = 0.40. Find the minimum angle 𝜃min at which the ladder
does not slip.

6. A cube has sides of 5 centimeters each. If it has a mass of 250 grams, what is its density?
7. A liquid has a mass of 1200 grams and occupies a volume of 800 cm³. Determine the
density of the liquid.

Instructor: Mr. Mvula E.

 8. If the density of an object is 0.8 g/cm³ and its volume is 1000 cm³, what is its mass?
9. How does the density of an object change if both its mass and volume are doubled?
10. Find the pressure due to the fluid at a depth of 76 cm in still (𝑎) water (𝜌𝑤 =
1.00 g/cm3 ) and (𝑏) mercury (𝜌 = 13.6 g/cm3 ).
11. In a hydraulic press such as the one shown in Fig. 13-2, the large piston has cross-
sectional area 𝐴1 = 200 cm2 and the small piston has cross-sectional area 𝐴2 = 5.0 cm2 .
If a force of 250 N is applied to the small piston, find the force 𝐹1 on the large piston?
12. In a car lift used in a service station, compressed air exerts a force on a small piston that
has a circular cross section of radius 5.00 cm. This pressure is transmitted by a liquid to a
piston that has a radius of 15.0 cm? (a) What force must the compressed air exert to lift a
car weighing 13300 N? (b) What air pressure produces this force?

Instructor: Mr. Mvula E.