Solving Tension in Wires at 50.0o & 45.0o

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In summary: The absolute tension in the first wire is 152.6N and the absolute tension in the second wire is 75.4N.
  • #1
oceanflavored
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Tensions in Wires :)

Homework Statement


A 10.0-kg picture is held in place by two wires, one hanging at 50.0o to the left of the vertical and the other at 45.0o to the right of the vertical. What is the tension in the first wire? What is the tension in the second wire?

Homework Equations


Force = mass(acceleration)
Weight = mass(gravity)

The Attempt at a Solution


So, I drew my free body diagram, drawing the two forces and the weight pointing downwards in a vertical direction.
Then, I reasoned that since it was being "held in place," acceleration would be zero, meaning the net force would be zero.
so then, I tried to solve for the tension in wire that was hanging at 50.0o to the left of the vertical:
net force = T1 cos 50o - (10.0 kg)(9.81 m/s2) = 0
But that gave me an answer of 152.6 N, which definitely did NOT match the book's answer of 69.6 N.

I'm sorry I'm this confused; all the previous examples/problems I've done had the wires hanging at equal angles, so the tensions were always equal :/
Thus, I'd really appreciate if you could tell me where I'm going wrong! Thank you so so so so so so much :)
 
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  • #2


You have two wires - the total weight is on both of them - you have assigned all 10kg to one wire and got an answer roughly twice as large as you should
 
  • #3


So, are you telling me to divide my answer by 2?
Because, in that case, the answer for both wires would be the same??
Except, my book has different answers for each wire: 69.6 N for the first one, 75.4 N for the second.

I'm sorry; I'm still confused :/
 
  • #4


The sum of the vertical components on the wires is 10g you can use this to find the absolute tension in each wire.
 

FAQ: Solving Tension in Wires at 50.0o & 45.0o

What is tension in wires?

Tension in wires refers to the amount of force or pull that is exerted on a wire. It is typically measured in units of Newtons (N) or pounds (lbs).

How is tension in wires calculated?

Tension in wires can be calculated using the equation T = F * L, where T is the tension, F is the force applied, and L is the length of the wire.

Why is it important to solve tension in wires?

Solving tension in wires is important because it helps ensure the stability and safety of structures that rely on wires, such as bridges, suspension systems, and electrical wiring.

What factors can affect tension in wires?

The tension in wires can be affected by various factors, including the weight of the object being supported, the angle at which the wire is suspended, and the strength and elasticity of the wire itself.

How does tension change at different angles?

At different angles, the tension in wires will change due to the change in the direction of the force exerted on the wire. As the angle decreases, the tension in the wire will increase, and as the angle increases, the tension will decrease.

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