Calculating Cable Angles for Suspended Beam

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the angles of cables supporting a suspended beam with two weights. The problem involves analyzing the forces acting on the system, particularly focusing on the tension in the cables and the angles they make with the horizontal.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the components of tension in the cables and the conditions for equilibrium, including the cancellation of horizontal components and the balance of vertical forces. Some express confusion about the calculations and the relationships between angles and tensions.

Discussion Status

The conversation is ongoing, with some participants attempting to clarify their understanding of the problem setup and the relationships between the variables. There is recognition of the need for a resting position of the system, but no consensus or resolution has been reached yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention specific weights and an angle, indicating that certain values are known, but the overall setup and additional constraints may still be under discussion.

3wt Man
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I have a beam suspended by two cables with two weights suspended by the beam. The weight of the beam is negligible. How would I find the resting angles of the cables.
 

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Take T1 to be the tension in one cable, T2 the tension in the other. Take \theta1 to be the angle the first cable makes with the horizontal, \theta2 to be the angle the second cable makes. You can calculate the x and y components of both tension vectors in terms of T and \theta. You know what the y component of each must be- they are given. You know that the x components must cancel, because the beam does not move left or right.
 
This is not a homework problem!
It has been so long since I did anything like that.
I have
T1x=T2x
T1y+T3y+W1=0
T2y+T3y+w2=0

Then I get lost
 
Okay I worked it out again, I finally get to a point where a Angle C = something Angle A.
This needs to be in a resting position and that is where my problem is.
W1=350lbs W2=650lbs B=20Deg
 

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