Ejs Ladder Demonstration

This simulation uses Easy Java Simulations (Ejs) to model the problem of a ladder leaning against a wall. The standard (textbook) statement of this problem assumes that there is no frictional force between the wall and the ladder, but a frictional force between the ground and the ladder. In the simulation you can set

θ_{0 ,}  μ_static ,  and   μ_kinetic ,

as long as:

μ_static > μ_kinetic   and   μ_kinetic > 0 .

There are two possibilities for this problem:

The Static Case:  In this case the force of static friction is large enough to maintain equilibrium and the ladder does not move. This condition amounts to:

tan (θ₀)   ≥  1/(2μ_static) .

The Dynamic Case:  In this case the force of static friction is not large enough to maintain equilibrium and the ladder moves. This condition amounts to:

tan (θ₀)   <   1/(2μ_static) .

In this case the frictional force now is the force of kinetic friction, μ_kineticN.