Tension Problem?

Question

A 15.59 N weight is suspended from two strings which both make a 14.74 degree angle with the vertical (watch out! Place the angle correctly). What is the tension in each string.

The answer is 8.060260258517114 , please explain how to get (explaining all the variables and wut they mean please)

Answer 1

Draw a force diagram….this will be extremely useful in visualizing the situation and how the different forces are acting.

You have a 15.59 Newton force pointing straight down. Since the weight is not accelerating, there must be a 15.59 N force (or its equivalent) pointing straight up to balance it out.
What is providing this upward 15.59 N force?
It is the force of tension in the strings which are suspending the weight; the strings are pulling up on the weight to keep it from falling down. But since the strings are pulling at an angle, not all of the force of tension in the strings is pointed upward…some of it is pointed sideways (either left or right depends on the string we are talking about).
What makes this problem nice is its symmetry. There are two strings which have the same reference angle to the vertical. The two strings will share the ‘load’ of the 15.59 N upward force evenly (the upward component of each strings tension force will be 1/2 of 15.59 Newtons). Also, due to the symmetry, the sideways component of one string will cancel out the sideways component of the other string. One string will be pulling left with some force and the other string will be pulling right with some force, the two forces will cancel for no net sideways acceleration.

At this point it would be a good idea to have a force diagram drawn.

We can solve for the tension force in one string and know that it has the same magnitude on the other string.

Whatever the tension force is on the string (F_t), we know that,
F_t * cos (theta) = 15.59 / 2 Newtons
Each string supports half of the upward force needed to keep the weight from falling.
Since we know theta, the angle, to be 14.74° and we know 15.59 / 2 is 7.795 N, we can solve for F_t as,
F_t = 7.795 N / cos (14.74°)
F_t = 8.06 Newtons.

It is not necessary to carry out the answer to so many decimals as you did.

Answer 2

I CANT DRAW PLEASE!
just draw a weight W and suspend it from two strings and between the strings is that where there is an angle(2A),just divide by dotted line that angle to have A and another A, and then mark the tension T on each of the cord which will be directed towards the suspension point and that weight should be directed opposite to them,resolve the tensions vertically,then balance the upward and downward forces,you will have
2TcosA=W
make subject T then you will obtain the answer!
Rem;A=14.74
I hope you are clear now!