Question

A 25 kg uniform ladder is leaning at a 60^o angle against a frictionless wall. It is a slick day—the coefficient of static friction between the floor and the ladder’s base is only 0.4. a. How far up the ladder (in terms of the fraction of the ladder’s length) can a 75 kg person climb before the ladder begins to slip? b. What is the minimum angle the ladder needs to allow the person to climb to the very top without the ladder slipping (note, if you solve symbolically, you can save yourself some steps)?

Answer 1