A 50 N cat climbs a 100 kg ladder (the mass is non-uniformly distributed and λ(x) = Cx8/3 ). The ladder is 6 m long and makes a 40o angle with the ground. The base of the ladder is touching the wall, and a rope is attached to the ladder half way up. The rope will break if the tension exceeds 1200 N. Can the cat climb up and get the 20 N fish?
a.) Draw the free-body diagram on the ladder.
b.) Write the torque equation for the ladder.
c.) How far up the ladder can the cat climb before the rope breaks?
d.) Assess: What minimum tension should the rope support so that the cat gets to the fish without the rope breaking?