A non-uniform beam PQ PQ\,PQ has length 300 cm and mass 20 kg. A load of 5 kg is placed on the beam at RRR, where PR=60PR = 60PR=60 cm. The beam is supported in horizontal equilibrium by two vertical cables attached at P P\,P and QQQ.
Given that the tension in the cable at Q Q\,Q is 20 N greater than the tension in the cable at PPP.
Find the distance, to the nearest cm, of the beam's centre of mass from PPP.
56 exam-style questions on OCR (MEI) A Level Maths 3.6 Rigid Bodies (A-level only), covering 3.6.1 Moment of a force (A-level only), 3.6.2 Equilibrium of a rigid body (A-level only), 3.6.3 Turning effect of forces (A-level only), and 3.6.4 Weight acting through a point (A-level only). Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.