Equilibrium of concurrent forces -- 3 Pulleys and 2 Weights

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the force ##F_w## in a system involving three pulleys and two weights, specifically identifying the answer as 185N. The key to solving this problem lies in determining the tension of the rope supporting the 70N weight, which is essential for analyzing the forces at play in the "weird pulley." Participants emphasize the importance of breaking down the forces into their x and y components, particularly focusing on the y components to apply Newton's 2nd law effectively.

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  • Understanding of Newton's 2nd law of motion
  • Basic knowledge of force components in physics
  • Familiarity with pulley systems and tension calculations
  • Ability to analyze static equilibrium in mechanical systems
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  • Study the principles of tension in pulley systems
  • Learn how to resolve forces into x and y components
  • Explore static equilibrium conditions in mechanical systems
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Butterfly41398
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Homework Statement
Find the the value of the force shown
Relevant Equations
F=ma
Help, this one is completely different, the weird pulley is making it hard for me and I don't even know what to do with it and where to start. The answer is 185N but I want to know how.
 

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Unfortunately the image seems to be cropped and it doesn't contain one vital piece of information: Which is the force ##F_w## which we try to calculate. My guess is that it is the force of the leftmost weight that hangs from the "weird" pulley?

Anyway I think you should start by calculating the tension of the rope that fixes the weight of 70N. This tension is a central "piece" in this problem.

Then you should analyze the forces that are being applied in the "weird pulley" (first pulley in the middle from left) into x and y components. Focus on the y components cause that's where the equation (apply Newton's 2nd law for the y-components, knowing that there is no movement in the y-direction) for finding ##F_w## lies.
 
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