- #1
novae
- 15
- 1
Homework Statement
A mass of 20 kg is suspended from a ceiling by two lengths of rope that make angles of 30° and 45° with the ceiling . Determine the tension in each of the strings.
2.Relevant equations
Fg= mg
The Attempt at a Solution
Fg= 20 x 9.8 = 196 N
∑F= fnet=ma
Fg-FTtotal= 0
196= FTtotal
196= FT1y+ FT2y (y components of each of the tensions)
196= (cos60)(FT1) + (cos45)(FT2)
I think I'm doing something wrong and I don't knownwhat. In the textbook, instead of using the y components of the tensions, they just use the tensions, which doesn't make sense to me because it's the y components of the tensions that give the equilibrant force to Fg.