A variation of Russell traction ( the figure )supports the lower leg in a cast. Suppose that the patient's legand cast have a combined mass of 17.0 kg and m1 is5.00kg.
1. What is the reaction force of the leg muscles to thetraction?
R=_____N
2. What must m2 be to keep the leg horizontal?
m2 = ______kg
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While a fractured tibia (the larger of the two major lower leg bones in mammals) is healing, it must be held horizontal and kept under some tension so that the bones will heal properly to prevent a permanent limp. One way to do this is to support the leg by using a variation of the Russell traction apparatus. (See the figure) The lower leg (including the foot) of a particular patient weighs 46.7 , all of which must be supported by the traction apparatus.
The device shown in the figure below is one version of a Russelltraction apparatus. It has two functions: to support the injuredleg horizontally and at the same time provide a horizontal tractionforce on it. This can be done by adjusting the weight, W, and theangle. For this patient, his leg (including his foot) is 95.0 cmlong (measured from the hip joint) and has a mass of 14.2 kg . Itscenter of mass is 41.0 from the hip joint. A support strap isattached to the patient's ankle 13.0 cm from the bottom of hisfoot.What weight is needed to support the leg horizontally?If the therapist specifies that the traction force must be 12.0 Nhorizontally, what must be the angle?What is the greatest traction force that this apparatus couldsupply to this patient's leg? What is the angle in that case?
