Free body diagram for all forces

In summary, the conversation discusses drawing a free-body diagram of a hanging weight supported by a steel cable and two ropes. The forces acting at the knot where the ropes and cable meet are identified as T1, T2, and T3, with T1 and T2 being tensions in the ropes and T3 coming from the third part of the cable. The orientation of the force vectors is important for accuracy, but their exact lengths are not graded. It is noted that T3 should be pointing downwards.
  • #1
monsteruf
2
0

Homework Statement


Two ropes are connected to a steel cable that supports a hanging weight as shown in the figure.

Draw a free-body diagram showing all of the forces acting at the knot that connects the two ropes to the steel cable.
Draw the force vectors with their tails at the knot. The orientation of your vectors will be graded. The exact length of your vectors will not be graded but the relative length of one to the other will be graded.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


They give me vector T1, T2, and T3. I'm trying to use T1 which is the tension to the left and put it in the direction of the steel cable and the same for T2, but I do not know about T3.

Here is a picture : http://imgur.com/kEPYYle
 
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  • #2
The third tension comes from the third part of the cable. (There's three parts of the cable connected to the knot.)
 
  • #3
Nathanael said:
The third tension comes from the third part of the cable. (There's three parts of the cable connected to the knot.)
So it should be pointing down?
 
  • #4
monsteruf said:
So it should be pointing down?
Yep
 

FAQ: Free body diagram for all forces

1. What is a free body diagram?

A free body diagram is a visual representation of all the forces acting on an object. It is used to analyze the motion and equilibrium of an object.

2. Why is it important to draw a free body diagram?

Drawing a free body diagram allows us to identify and analyze all the forces acting on an object, which is crucial in understanding the motion and equilibrium of the object.

3. What are the steps for drawing a free body diagram?

The steps for drawing a free body diagram are as follows:1. Identify the object and draw it as a dot or a box.2. Determine all the external forces acting on the object, including weight, normal force, friction, and applied forces.3. Draw each force as an arrow pointing away from the object, with the length and direction representing the magnitude and direction of the force.4. Label each force with its respective magnitude and direction.5. Choose a coordinate system and draw the axes on the diagram.6. Sum up all the forces in each direction and set them equal to the object's acceleration in that direction.7. Solve for the unknown forces or acceleration, if necessary.

4. Can a free body diagram be used for objects in motion?

Yes, a free body diagram can be used for objects in motion. It helps us understand the forces that are causing the object to move and how they affect its motion.

5. Are there any limitations to using a free body diagram?

One limitation of using a free body diagram is that it assumes the object is a point mass and does not take into account its size or shape. It also does not account for the internal forces within an object, such as tension or compression. Additionally, it only considers forces in a two-dimensional plane, so it may not accurately represent the forces acting on an object in a three-dimensional space.

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