Calculating Tension in a Hanging Rope: To Add or Not to Add?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the tension in a rope that has a weight hanging in the middle, causing it to form a triangular shape. Participants are exploring whether to consider the tensions on either side of the rope as additive or singular.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are questioning the reasoning behind adding the tensions, with some suggesting that treating them as separate may be more appropriate in certain contexts. Others reflect on their habitual approaches to similar problems.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with various perspectives being shared. Some participants are providing insights into their thought processes regarding the treatment of tensions, while others are prompting further reflection on the assumptions involved.

Contextual Notes

There is an indication of differing approaches based on the symmetry of the situation and the potential complexity introduced by factors like pulleys and friction in related problems.

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Homework Statement


Just a quick question, when a single rope has a weight hanging in the middle of it, causing it to form a triangle, and the question asks what the tension in the rope is, do you add the 2 tensions together (if they are the same on both sides) or is the naswer just the one tension?


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The Attempt at a Solution

 
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I'd look at it like two identical ropes holding onto the weight... So I don't know why it would make sense to add the tensions.
 
Ask yourself why would you add the two tensions when you already know what they are.
 
Personally, i treat the two tensions as separate as in from hanging from two ropes. Force of habit, but some problems including those ugly pulley probs with mass and especially friction, demand separate consideration. In symmetry situations, I like TODS approach.
 

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