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mHo2
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Homework Statement
A high powered motorboat pulls a water skier who is testing some prototype skis. A heavy-duty spring scale that is attached to the tow rope reads 1000 N. The forces of air resistance and water resistance on the skier combine to give a total drag force of 750N
Determine the tension on the rope
Homework Equations
N/A
The Attempt at a Solution
At first, these are the two answers i had:
1) 1000N
Because this is what the spring scale reads, this is what force is being applied in the 'left' direction.
2) 1750N
Because this is the addition of all of the forces. If i can remember correctly, if i am pulling on two sides of a spring scale, it will add up all of the forces both in the left and right direction.
However when looking at the answer key, the answer was 750N.
Why is this? It doesn't seem to compute for me. Is the tension on the rope the addition of all the resistive forces?
I don't think i fully understand the definition of 'tension'.
Thanks!
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