The problem is pictured above in full gener

generality. The variables in question are::

FD = the force that one of your hands pushes downwards with at x = 0 in order to counteract the
torques caused by the rod and the glass
FU = the force that the pivot point (or your other hand) must exert upwards to keep the entire
fixture suspended in place.. Note: this force acts at the pivot point and thus provides no
torque.
WR = the actual weight of the rod
WG = the weight of the glass.
L = the length of the rod (given to be 55 in.)
p = the x-value
ue of the pivot point (given to be 24 in.)
θ = the angle that the bar is tilted above the horizontal

The quantity
ity in question is the value of the upward applied force: FU. If the entire setup is to
remain in place, we want the sum of the torques going to zero, as well as the sum of the actual
forces going to zero:
∑τ = 0 and ∑ F = 0
Note: We have to pay close attention to where the pivot point is with respect to the center of the
bar, because this fact determines the sign of the torque that the bar
bar’s weight causes. I’ll
I treat
both cases and see what turns out.
Case 1 (0 ≤ p < L / 2) :

L 
∑τ = F D p cos θ − WR  − p  cos θ − WG (L − p ) cos θ = 0
2 
∑ F = FU − FD − WR − WG = 0
Be careful with the signs of the torques: counterclockwise torque is positive, clockwise is
negative. Also note that we just want the force component that is perpendicular to the lever arm
when finding torque. This is accounted for with the cosine factors.

To find FU, we solve the second equation. The weight of the rod and the glass are known, but
force at which we must exert downwards at x = 0, FD, is solved for using the first equation:

L 
FD p cos θ − WR  − p  cos θ − WG (L − p ) cos θ = 0
2 
 L  L 
⇒ FD = WR  − 1 + WG  − 1
 2p  p 

Then plugging this into the second equation from above we get:

FU = FD + WR + WG
 L  L 
= WR  − 1 + WG  − 1 + WR + WG
 2p  p 
L
= (WR + 2WG )
2p

For the values given, this results in a necessary upward force of roughly 17.19 pounds.

Also note that our solution, as it stands, is independent of the angle that the rod is tilted!
Case 2 ( L / 2 < p < L) :
Now, if the pivot point is somewhere in the second half of the bar, we have a sign change for the
torque that the bar’s weight causes. So our equilibrium equations change slightly to account for
this:
 L
∑τ = FD p cos θ + WR  p − 2  cosθ − WG (L − p )cos θ = 0
∑ F = FU − FD − WR − WG = 0

Solving the first equation for FD :

 L
FD p cos θ + WR  p −  cos θ − WG (L − p ) cos θ = 0
 2
 L  L 
⇒ FD = WR  − 1 + WG  − 1
 2p  p 

And finally solving for FU :

FU = FD + WR + WG
 L  L 
= WR  − 1 + WG  − 1 + WR + WG
 2p  p 
L
= (WR + 2WG )
2p

The exact same form as we had before! To plug in some numbers here, take for example the
previous case where p = 24 in., or 3.5 in. to the left of the center of the rod. Now make it so that
p is 3.5 in. to the right of the center. In other words, with the remaining values staying the same,
take p = 31 in. This requires an upward force of roughly 13.3 pounds. This is less than what we
needed with the previous pivot position, as expected.

Some peculiar things happen when the pivot point is placed in the last quarter-length of the rod:

First, when p = 0.75 L, FD = 0. This means that we could support the entire setup with just 1
hand placed at the pivot point, providing an upward force of 10 poinds.

Second, when p is between 0.75 L and L, the sign of FD changes! Which means that our hand
placed at x = 0 has to pull up in order to keep the rod in equilibrium. This in turn changes our
force equation to:
 FU = − FD + WR + WG
 L  L 
= −WR  − 1 − WG  − 1 + WR + WG
 2p  p 
L
= 2(WR + WG ) − (WR + 2WG )
2p

So to summarize, we have:

L
p ≤ 0.75 L : FD points downwards; FU = (WR + 2WG )
2p

L
0.75 L ≤ p ≤ L : FD points upwards; FU = 2(WR + WG ) − (WR + 2WG )
2p