Elephant on the Bridge/Lesson Document: Difference between revisions

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 There are many forces acting on both the bridge and elephant in this situation. The explanation provided here is a simplified one which deals only with the forces acting on the elephant.
 The most obvious forces acting on the elephant are:
-# The elephant’s weight pulling it down on to the bridge and making it sag.
+* The elephant’s weight pulling it down on to the bridge and making it sag.
-# The force of reaction from the bridge pushing upwards on the elephant’s feet (see insert for fuller explanation).
+* The force of reaction from the bridge pushing upwards on the elephant’s feet (see insert for fuller explanation).
 [[Image:elephants foot.jpeg|800x800px]]
-Because the bridge sags, its surface is not horizontal. This means that there is friction between the elephant’s feet and the surface of the bridge.
+Because the bridge sags, its surface is not horizontal. This means that there is:
+* friction between the elephant’s feet and the surface of the bridge.
 The net effect of all these forces acting on the elephant is to keep it stationary in the position shown in the picture.