Question

a table has 3 legs that are 1m in length and a fourth leg that is longer by d=0.50mm so that the table wobbles slightly a heavy steel cylinder with mass= 290kg is placed upright on the table(which has comparatively negligible mass) so that all four legs are compressed and the table no longer wobbles the legs are wooden cylinder with cross sectional area, A = 1cm^2 the Young's modulus for the wood is 1.3 x 10^10 N/m^2. find the magnitude of forces on the legs from the floor​

Answer 1

Answer:

Seems to me that the question is trying to have it both ways, as in mathematical model vs practice. On one hand it seems that the intended definition of a “table that doesn't wobble” is very mathematical (ends of legs are points and it suffices that the table can be rotated in a way such that all four touch the floor at some instant), but on the other hand people suggesting “unrealistic” floors get accused of trickery… If the point is to showcase a single pre-determined (albeit neat) solution, perhaps the question should define the desired model of table, floor, and wobble more accurately.

Answer 2

Explanation:

Seems to me that the question is trying to have it both ways, as in mathematical model vs practice. On one hand it seems that the intended definition of a “table that doesn't wobble” is very mathematical (ends of legs are points and it suffices that the table can be rotated in a way such that all four touch the floor at some instant), but on the other hand people suggesting “unrealistic” floors get accused of trickery… If the point is to showcase a single pre-determined (albeit neat) solution, perhaps the question should define the desired model of table, floor, and wobble more accurately.