Enter the mass of the objects at both ends of the beam into the calculator to determine the support force.
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Support Force Formula
The following equation is used to calculate the Support Force.
SF = (M1+M2)*g
- Where SF is the support force (N)
- M1 is the mass of object 1 (kg)
- M2 is the mass of object 2 (kg)
- g is the acceleration due to gravity (m/s^2)
To calculate a support force, add together the masses at either end of the beam/lever and then multiply by the acceleration due to gravity.
What is a Support Force?
Definition:
A support force measures the total force acting at the support or pivot point of a beam/lever system. Typically, this system is at equilibrium and has different masses at either end of the beam.
How to Calculate Support Force?
Example Problem:
The following example outlines the steps and information needed to calculate the Support Force.
First, determine the mass of object 1 . In this example, the mass of object 1 is found to be 30kg.
Next, determine the mass of object 2. For this problem, the mass of object 2 is found to be 10kg.
Finally, calculate the Support Force using the formula above:
SF = (M1+M2)*g
SF = (30+10)*9.81
SF = 392.4 N
