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darkSun
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Homework Statement
A mass of 5 kg has a hook attached to it, and it is placed on an initially slack string that is suspended from two poles.
Due to friction between the rope and the hook, the mass does not slide to the middle of the two poles; it hangs closer to one side so that the string makes an angle of 50 degrees with the horizontal on that side, and 30 degrees with the other side.
Question is: What is the force of friction between the hook and the string?
Is this description clear enough?
Homework Equations
Is this correct? Friction between the string and the hook = (mu*Tension)
The Attempt at a Solution
The first thing I'm wondering is whether the tensions in the string on either sides of the mass will be the same. They are both the same string, but... I'm not sure.
Also, when separating tension into components, ie
T1sin 50 + T2 sin 30 = 5g
and
T1cos 50 = T2cos 30
T1 is the tension in the shorter side of the string, the side closer to the pole and inclined at a higher angle. T2 is the tension in the other side.
Would friction be included in these equations? I think so, and I think it would be along the same direction as T1. (so replace T1 by T1 + Friction)
But then I get two equations in three unknows, namely T1, T2, and Friction. I think I am going about this the wrong way...