Halliday, Resnick & Walker — Equilibrium and Elasticity: Problem Problem_73

A uniform ladder is 10 m long and weighs 200 N. In Fig. 12.64, the ladder leans against a vertical, frictionless wall at height h = 8.0 m above the ground. A horizontal force \(\vec{F}\) is applied to the ladder at distance d = 2.0 m from its base (measured along the ladder). (a) If force magnitude F = 50 N, what is the force of the ground on the ladder, in unit-vector notation? (b) If F = 150 N, what is the force of the ground on the ladder, also in unit-vector notation? (c) Suppose the coefficient of static friction between the ladder and the ground is 0.38; for what minimum value of the force magnitude F will the base of the ladder just barely start to move toward the wall?