---
title: "The figure above shows a uniform beam of length \\( L \\) and mass \\( M \\) that hangs horizontally and is attached to a vertical wall. A block of mass \\( M \\) is suspended from the far end of the beam by a cable. A support cable runs from the wall to the outer edge of the beam. Both cables are of negligible mass. The wall exerts a force \\( F_w \\) on the left end of the beam. For which of the following actions is the magnitude of the vertical component of \\( F_w \\) smallest?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/29466/"
date_modified: "2025-11-06T09:30:56+00:00"
---

# The figure above shows a uniform beam of length \( L \) and mass \( M \) that hangs horizontally and is attached to a vertical wall. A block of mass \( M \) is suspended from the far end of the beam by a cable. A support cable runs from the wall to the outer edge of the beam. Both cables are of negligible mass. The wall exerts a force \( F_w \) on the left end of the beam. For which of the following actions is the magnitude of the vertical component of \( F_w \) smallest?

The figure above shows a uniform beam of length \( L \) and mass \( M \) that hangs horizontally and is attached to a vertical wall. A block of mass \( M \) is suspended from the far end of the beam by a cable. A support cable runs from the wall to the outer edge of the beam. Both cables are of negligible mass. The wall exerts a force \( F_w \) on the left end of the beam. For which of the following actions is the magnitude of the vertical component of \( F_w \) smallest?

![Diagram](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-28-at-3.44.52-PM-e1711941072220-300x202.png)

- **A.** Keeping the support cable and block as shown in the diagram.
- **B.** Moving the lower end of the support cable to the center of the beam and leaving the block at the outer end of the beam.
- **C.** Keeping the lower end of the support cable at the outer end of the beam and moving the block to the center of the beam.
- **D.** Moving both the support cable and the block to the center of the beam.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/29466/*