Find the tension in two cables with a 68kg rescuer attached to them.

[quanitary]

Homework Statement

In a rescue, the 68.0 kg police officer is suspended by TWO cables, as shown in the figure below.

Theta1 = 35 degrees, Theta2 = 48 degrees
Rescuer mass = 68 kg

Homework Equations

Find the Tension in cable 1 in N
Find the Tension in cable 2 in N

The Attempt at a Solution

I tried to find the tension in each cable and then subtract them from each other.

 

[PhanthomJay]

A figure attached would be helpful. Once you find the cable tensions, why subtract them? Use force diagrams (free body diagrams) and Newton's laws.

 

[Spinnor]

Homework Statement

In a rescue, the 68.0 kg police officer is suspended by TWO cables, as shown in the figure below.

Theta1 = 35 degrees, Theta2 = 48 degrees
Rescuer mass = 68 kg

Homework Equations

Find the Tension in cable 1 in N
Find the Tension in cable 2 in N

The Attempt at a Solution

I tried to find the tension in each cable and then subtract them from each other.

Draw a picture. Let the weight force be vertical and downward. One tension points up and left and the other points up and to the right.

The sum of the vertical components of the tensions equals the weight force of the officer. The left and right components of the tensions are equal and opposite.

You must use some trigonometry to get the x and y components of the tensions.

You should get two equations in the two unknowns, T_1 and T_2.