A person with weight 800N is standing 1,5m from the edge of a 5m long platform (weight 600N). The platform is suspended from the ceiling by two cables (one at each end of the platform). What are the forces on the cables?

Question

anonymous · Answer

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I don't really have any idea how to start.
My first thought was something like this:
Fa = 600N/2 + 800N (1,5m/5m)
Fb = 600N/2 + 800N (3,5m/5m)

But I don't think that makes sense, I would expect Fa > Fb

irishboy123 · Answer

take moment about the ends, as shown for $T_b$
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