Find magnitude of the force of tension?

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SUMMARY

The problem involves calculating the tension in two vines supporting a gorilla with a mass of 310 kg, which hangs at an angle of 30 degrees from the vertical. The gravitational force acting on the gorilla is calculated using the equation Force = mass * gravity, resulting in a total force of 3038 N. To find the tension in each vine, a free-body diagram must be drawn to analyze the forces acting on the gorilla, leading to the conclusion that the tension in each vine is not simply derived from the cosine of the angle applied to the total force.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of free-body diagrams
  • Knowledge of basic physics concepts such as force and tension
  • Familiarity with trigonometric functions, specifically cosine
  • Ability to apply Newton's laws of motion
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  • Draw a detailed free-body diagram for the gorilla's situation
  • Study the application of Newton's second law in static equilibrium
  • Learn about vector decomposition in physics
  • Explore tension calculations in systems with multiple forces
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TLink11
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Homework Statement


About 50 years ago, the San Diego Zoo, in California, had the largest gorilla on Earth: its mass was about 3.10 * 10^2 kg. Suppose a gorilla with this mass hangs from two vines, each which makes an angel of 30 degrees with the vertical. Draw a free-body diagram showing these various forces, and find the magnitude of the force of tension in each vine.
m = 310kg
angle of each vine = 30
g= 9.8 m/s

Homework Equations


Force = m * g

The Attempt at a Solution


F = 310 * 9.8 = 3038N
Cos30 * 3038N = 2630.985177N <- Would this be the tension for each vine? I'm not good at physics so I need confirmation/help.
 
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TLink11 said:

The Attempt at a Solution


F = 310 * 9.8 = 3038N
Cos30 * 3038N = 2630.985177N <- Would this be the tension for each vine? I'm not good at physics so I need confirmation/help.
No, it doesn't work out that way.
Did you draw a free-body diagram showing all the forces acting on the gorilla? Do that, then answer these questions:

What is the downward force (or forces) acting on the gorilla?
What is the upward force (or forces) acting on the gorilla?

That should help you towards solving the problem.
 

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