- #1
moenste
- 711
- 12
Homework Statement
A particle A is suspended as shown in the figure by two strings, which pass over smooth pulleys, and are attached to particles B and C. At A, the strings are at right angles to each other, and make equal angles with the horizontal. If the mass of B is 1 kg, what are the masses of A and C?
Answers: A = √2 kg (20.5 kg), C = 1 kg
2. The attempt at a solution
For C:
If B = 1 kg and then it should be equal to C and C = 1 kg. I would say that because the system is in equilibrium and this is the reason, but it is not stated that the system is in eq. so I don't quite know why C is equal to 1 kg and not 1.1 or 0.9 kg.
For A:
At first I thought that A = B + C so 2 kg which is wrong. Then I though that if we take B as 1 kg, the angle as 45 degrees then A should be 1 cos 45. Adding another 1 cos 45 due to C is 2 cos 45 = 1.41 kg or root 2. But again, not sure about whether this logic is correct.
Any tips please? Thank you very much in advance.