Physics Quiz

[Ninja_Bait]

I'm still confused, but I think I might be slowly getting it.

I made an error in confusing fixed with given, with respect to theta. I thought the wheel could pivot at the origin, but it can't. :\

So on the rod there is a net torque of 0 (preventing circular motion about the pivot point) and on the wheel there is a net force of 0 (preventing translation on the xy plane), right? I think that gives me three equations, torque, force in the y and force in the x, for three unknowns, tension, magnitude of friction and direction of friction. I think I can do it...

It's still a little too early in the morning for me to solve this independently, but did amoose get the right answer?