A street lamp weighs 150 N . It is supported equally by two wires that form an angle of 106 degrees with each other. What is the tension of these wires in N?
2006-10-25 09:58:00 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The weight is supported by two wires, each will carry W/2. This is the vertical component of force on the wire. It forms the "side opposite" in a vector diagram of the forces on the wire, the hyponenuse being the tension in the wire T. The angle A opposite W/2 is 90º - 106º/2;
the hypotenuse T is then (W/2)/sin(T).
2006-10-25 10:05:01 · answer #1 · answered by gp4rts 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sketch a diagram of the lamppost and the two wires holding it up. Make a right angled triangle out of your diagram. The smallest side will be 150N and the angle will be 53 degrees. Using Trigonometry you can work out the length of the hypontenuse (the supporting wire). Your answer will be the tension in the wire ... i think :)
2006-10-25 17:09:57 · answer #2 · answered by nobody n 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't have a calculator with me just do this:
150/2= cos(53)*T , T=75/Cos(53) app.=125
2006-10-25 17:10:11 · answer #3 · answered by Ali A 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋