Question

A man holds a shovel full of snow; his right hand grasps the end of the shovel while his left hand is located 45.0 cm away (supporting the shovel); snow with mass 12.0 kg rests on the shovel. The shovel is 1.60 m long. What force is exerted on the shovel by each hand?

a: left hand 307 N, right hand 427 N

b: left hand 427 N, right hand 307 N

c: left hand 98 N, right hand 19 N

d: left hand 19 N, right hand 98 N

Answer 1

A diagram would have been real help here. Is the distance 45 cm from the right hand end or from the showel. From the question statement, this looks like 45 cm is from where the right hand is

Here is what the question states

Then taking torque about right hand end, we have

Assuming g = 10 m/s²

12*10*1.6 = F (left hand) * 0.45

F (left hand) = 426.66 N

F (left hand) = 427 N

Now, computing force in y-direction

F (left hand) = 12*10 + F (right hand)

F (right hand) = 307 N