A steel ball of mass 3.50 kg is suspended from two strings as shown in the picture. The upper string is at an angle of theta = 31.0o from the vertical, while the lower string is horizontal. Calculate the magnitude of T2, the tension in the lower string.
I don't know where to start! I was wondering if mg=Fnormal, but I dont' think so. Why are there 2 unknowns?!?
2006-10-13 18:50:39 · 2 answers · asked by JustWondering 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
The upper string is providing a force (at 31 degrees from vertical) that can be resolved into horizontal and vertical components.
Since the lower string is providing only a horizontal force, you know the vertical component of the upper string's force must be equal to the weight of the mass (3.5 x 9.8 N). Knowing this force, you can solve for the horizonal force provided by the upper string (3.5 x 9.8 x tan 31).
The horizontal force of the lower string exactly offsets the horizontal component of the upper string, which we just calculated, so it has the same magnitude and the opposite direction. And this force is also equal to the tension in the lower string.
2006-10-13 19:05:26 · answer #1 · answered by actuator 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No picture here. May be like suspending ball first with vertical string and then pulling it horizontally with another string so that 1st string becomes 31 degree.
tension in the horiz string should be mg Sin 31 . ( If the ball is vertical , angle is zero and no tension in horiz string as mg Sin 0=0
2006-10-14 02:00:22 · answer #2 · answered by jaco 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋