Three identical filing cabinets have two drawers each. There are also three equal stacks of paper. Cabinet A: In the first filing cabinet, the top drawer is filled with one stack of paper and closed halfway. Cabinet B: In the second filing cabinet, the top drawer is filled with one stack of paper and left open. Cabinet C: In the third filing cabinet, the bottom drawer is filled with one stack of paper and closed all the way. Rank the three cabinets by their rotational stability.

Question

Physics

Douglas Morse

5 March, 15:15

Three identical filing cabinets have two drawers each. There are also three equal stacks of paper. Cabinet A: In the first filing cabinet, the top drawer is filled with one stack of paper and closed halfway. Cabinet B: In the second filing cabinet, the top drawer is filled with one stack of paper and left open. Cabinet C: In the third filing cabinet, the bottom drawer is filled with one stack of paper and closed all the way. Rank the three cabinets by their rotational stability.

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Answers (1)

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Immanuel · Answer 1

From greatest to least: B, A, C

Explanation:

They all are weighed down by equal amount of force (weight of the satck of paper). A rotationally stable body has a higher tendency of rolling under a moment or torque about an axis.

The moment of these drawers about their axis increases with perpendicular distance which increases with the degree of opening.