How Does the Angle Affect Cable Tension in a Tow Truck Scenario?

[hofluff87]

A tow truck is connected to a 1500 kg car by a cable that makes a 23^o angle to the horizontal. If the truck accelerates at 0.59 m/s², what is the magnitude of the cable tension? Neglect friction and the mass of the cable.


i know that the car is accelerating at the same rate. my question is how do you include the angle into the equation for the cable tension?

 

[-EquinoX-]

I think the purpose of the angle is so that you can de-compose the problems into components, Fx and Fy. Try to resolve both forces on the x-direction and y-direction first

 

[hofluff87]

I got it

F= (M * a)/cos (theta)