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You are able to hold out your arm in an outstretched horizontal position because

ID: 2262192 • Letter: Y

Question

You are able to hold out your arm in an outstretched horizontal position because of the action of the deltoid muscle. Assume the humerus bone has a mass M1=3.6kg, length L=0.66m and its center of mass is a distance L1=0.33m from the scapula. (For this problem ignore the rest of the arm.) The deltoid muscle attaches to the humerus a distance L2=0.15m from the scapula. The deltoid muscle makes an angle of ?=17? with the horizontal, as shown. (Figure 1) (Figure 2) Use g=9.8m/s2throughout the problem.

Explanation / Answer

A:

Take the moments about the attachment point to the scapula:

T*Sin(17)*.15 - 3.6*9.8* 0.33 = 0

T*Sin(17)*.15 = 3.6*9.8*0.33

T = 3.6*9.8*.33/(.15*Sin(17)) = 265N

B:

Take the sum of the forces in the "y" direction:

3.6*9.8 - 265*Sin(17) + F_sy = 0

F_sy = 265*Sin(17) - 3.6*9.8 = 42.3 N (downward)

C:

Take the sum of the forces in the "x" direction:

T*Cos(17) - F_sx = 0

F_sx = T*Cos(17) = 265*Cos(17) = 253.4 N away from the body