1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
A uniform ladder is 10 m long and weighs 180 N. In the figure below, the ladder leans against a vertical, frictionless wall at height h = 8.0 m above the ground. A horizontal force is applied to the ladder at a distance 1.0 m from its base (measured along the ladder).

(a) If 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, 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 F will the base of the ladder just start to move toward the wall?

2. Relevant equations
∑$\tau$ = r x F and ∑F = ma

3. The attempt at a solution
I got both parts (a) and (b) right so I don’t need those.

For part (c), I summed the horizontal forces: ∑F$_{x}$ = 0 = -F$_{f}$ + F$_{A}$ – N$_{W}$
where F$_{A}$ is the applied force, F$_{f}$ is the frictional force, and N$_{W}$ is the normal force from the wall.

Then I summed the vertical forces: ∑F$_{y}$ = 0 = N – W

Then I summed the torques using the base of the ladder as the axis of rotation: ∑$\tau$ = 0 = Fsin(53) + 5(180)sin(37) – 10N$_{W}$sin(53)

Then I used N$_{W}$ = μmg – F$_{f}$ and substituted it into the torque equation and then plugged in all my numbers to solve for F.

I got F = 133 N, which is wrong and I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong.

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