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Ladder Problems
Starter
1. (Review of last lesson)
A non-uniform beam, A B, of mass 5 kg and length b m, 40 N B
is freely hinged to a vertical wall at A. The beam is held in
equilibrium at an angle of 30o to the horizontal by a force
of magnitude 40 N, applied horizontally at B, as shown.
Find the distance of the centre of mass of the beam 30o
A 5g
from A. Give your answer in terms of b.
Notes
Ladder problems
When a rigid body, like a ladder rests against the ground and a wall, it will experience normal
reaction forces from both the ground and wall, and possibly frictional forces depending.
Decide in which these situations is it impossible to have equilibrium.
FW FW
RW RW RW RW
smooth
smooth
rough
rough
RG RG RG RG
mg mg mg mg
rough F smooth smooth rough FG
The second and third diagrams could never be in equilibrium because there is no horizontal force
to the right to counteract the normal contact force at the top of the ladder.
N.B. Most questions are like the first diagram i.e. rough ground, smooth wall.
Remember that normal reaction forces always act perpendicular. When friction is involved, you will
need to use the formula Flim = μR.
We can do 4 things:
1. Resolve vertically, R( ↑ )
2. Resolve horizontally, R( → )
3. Use Flim = μR
4. Take moments about a point, usually one of the ends of the ladder.
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E.g. 1 A ladder rests against a smooth vertical wall at an angle of RW
65o to rough horizontal ground. The ladder has mass 4.5 kg C
and length 5x m. A cat of mass 1.3 kg sits on the ladder at C,
4x m from the base. The ladder is in limiting equilibrium. 1.3g
Modelling the ladder as a uniform rod and the cat as a particle, RG
find the coefficient of friction between the ground and the ladder. 4.5g
65o
Flim
Working: FlimG = μRG so we need to find FlimG and RG.
↻ about RG: 4.5g cos 65 × 2.5x + 1.3g cos 65 × 4x = RW cos 25 × 5x
Dividing by x: 11.25g cos 65 + 5.2g = 5 cos 25 × RW
11.25g cos 65 + 5.2g cos 65
RW =
5 cos 25
RW = 15.034
R( → ): FlimG = RW = 15.034…N
R( ↑ ): RG = 4.5g + 1.3g = 56.84 N
FlimG 15.034
Flim = μR: μ= =
RG 56.84
μ = 0.26
E.g. 2 A uniform ladder of mass 11 kg and length 7 m rests against a rough
vertical wall, at an angle of 60o to smooth, horizontal ground, as shown.
A horizontal force of magnitude 35 N is applied to the base of the ladder,
keeping it in limiting equilibrium, with the ladder on the point of sliding
up the wall. Find:
(a) the magnitude of the normal reaction of the wall on the ladder, 11g
(b) the frictional force between the wall and the ladder, 60o
(c) the coefficient of friction between the wall and the ladder.
35 N
Hint: draw a diagram with all the forces included.
Ladder, normal reactions, μ
Video: Ladder problems
Ladder problems EQ
Solutions to Starter and E.g.s
Exercise
p520 22D Qu 2-6
Additional questions
1. A uniform ladder of mass 10 kg and length 6 m rests with one end on rough, horizontal
ground and the other end against a smooth, vertical wall. The coefficient of friction
between the ground and the ladder is 0.3, and the ladder makes an angle of 65o with the
ground. A girl of mass 50 kg begins to climb the ladder. How far up the ladder can she
climb before the ladder slips?
2. A uniform ladder of mass 9 kg and length 4.8 m rests in limiting equilibrium with one end on
rough horizontal ground and the other end against a rough, vertical wall. The normal
reactions at the wall and the ground are 22 N and 75 N respectively. Find:
(a) the angle that the ladder makes with the ground,
(b) the coefficient of friction between the wall and the ladder,
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(c) the coefficient of friction between the ground and the ladder.
3*. Robert holds an 8 m uniform ladder in place against a smooth vertical wall by applying a
horizontal force of K N to it, 1 m from the base of the ladder. The ladder weighs 100 N and
makes an angle of 75o with the rough horizontal floor, where μ = 0.1. Given that the
ladder remains at rest, find the range of possible values for the magnitude of the force K.
Answers to additional questions
1. 4.03 m (L
adder, distance)
2. (a) 54.6o
(b) 0.6
(c) 0.29 (Lad
der, rough wall)
3. 3.882… ≤ K ≤ 26.73… *(Ladder, range of values)
Summary
Ladder problems — for a ladder to remain in place there must be a friction force acting between
the bottom of the ladder and the ground i.e. the ground must be rough.
Solving ladder problems:
1. Resolve vertically, R( ↑ )
2. Resolve horizontally, R( → )
3. Use Flim = μR
4. Take moments about a point, usually one of the ends of the ladder.
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