[Physics] Can a wall exert a force at an angle? Beam in rotational and static equilibrium problem

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The answer is C.

I'm thoroughly confused! The question is asking for when the magnitude of the vertical component of the force that the wall exerts on the left end of the beam is the smallest. How can a wall that is perpendicular to the beam exert a force in any direction other than directly to the right? When would there ever be a vertical component?

Am I missing some sort of fundamental understanding about how forces work? If I exert a force on a wall by pushing it with my hand and forearm at an angle, by Newton's third law, is the wall capable of exerting a force on my arm at the same angle? Or is it only going to exert a force equal to the horizontal component of my force?

Best Answer

Consider the forces on the beam:

Tension in the cable pulls up and left on the right end of the beam, which would tend to torque it counterclockwise and translate it to the left.

Gravity pulls down on the center of the beam (effectively) which would tend to translate it downward.

If the beam is not rotating or translating, there must be some rightward force to counter translation due to the cable and some upward force on the left end to counter the torque (and together with the cable, prevent falling).

The final set of forces on the beam are downward gravity, up-right compression from the wall and up-left tension from the cable, which all balance out to keep the beam in place and level.

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