Question

A circular table has a radius of $1m$ and mass $20kg$. It has 4 legs of $1m$ each fixed symmetrically on its circumference. The maximum weight which can be placed anywhere on this table without toppling it is :

• A. $84.3kg$
• B. $34.8kg$
• C. $48.3kg$
• D. $43.8kg$

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

$48.3kg$

Let $m$ be the maximum mass placed on the nearer edge.
The distance between the two adjacent legs is $d=\sqrt{1^2+1^2}=\sqrt{2}$
here, $mg\times 1=(mg+20g)\times \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}$
or $mg(\sqrt{2}-1)=20g$
$m=\frac{20}{\sqrt{2}-1}=48.3kg$