A load of mass m is suspended from a system of identical rods connected by hinges, as shown in the figure. Determine the force that stretches the nth upper horizontal rod.
Solutions of Savchenko Problems in Physics knowledge must be free
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<h3> Statement </h3>
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$2.8.25^*.$ A load of mass $m$ is suspended from a system of identical rods connected by hinges, as shown in the figure. Determine the force that stretches the nth upper horizontal rod.
For problem $2.8.25^*$
<h3>Solution</h3>
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Forces acting on the system
Let's consider forces acting on the 1st rod $$\left{\begin{matrix} F_1=F_1'\cos(60^{\circ})=F_1'/2 \ T=F_1'\cos(30^{\circ})=\sqrt{3}F_1'/2 \end{matrix}\right.$$
$$F_1'=\frac{2T}{\sqrt{3}}=\frac{2mg}{\sqrt{3}}$$ $$\boxed{F_1=\frac{mg}{\sqrt{3}} \to F_2=\frac{3mg}{\sqrt{3}}}$$ As we can see, the index of $F_2$ increased by two, leading to recurrence relation for $n^\text{th}$ index: $2n-1$ $$\boxed{F_n=\frac{(2n-1)mg}{\sqrt{3}}}$$