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Homework Help: Are units tension vectors?

  1. Feb 8, 2007 #1

    suspenc3

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    1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

    See Attachment


    2. Relevant equations



    3. The attempt at a solution

    Im just trying to figure out all of the forces, im kinda confused about the whole [tex]T_{BDC}[/tex] Do i just make these two separate tensions...and then add them together or something? Can someone explain how I should go about doing this? Also concerning the tensions, should I just make them into unit vectors...in i, j, and k components?

    Im kinda new to these problems, any help would be appreciated..


    Thanks
     

    Attached Files:

    suspenc3, Feb 8, 2007
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  3. Feb 9, 2007 #2

    AlephZero

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    The cable BDC is continuous and there is a pulley at D. So the tension in the two parts BD and DC is the same.

    Yes, you will need to resolve the tensions in the strings into their i j k components. That's how you represent the fact that the force must act along the length of the string, not in a different direction.
     
    AlephZero, Feb 9, 2007
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