Tension from Incline Plane: Only Measured in Horizontal Direction?

[yougene]

Ok, so in the red box it says that the tension is obtained from the horizontal dimension. This seems very wrong to me. Could someone explain this to me? Isn't there tension in the vertical dimension?

Homework Statement

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/9276/inclineplanesolution.jpg

 

[willem2]

Note that the x direction isn't horizontal, but along the slope. Only the known force of gravity
and the tension in the rope have a component in this direction.

 

[yougene]

Thanks for your time.
This is noted. Even with the rotated axis, T still has a vertical component.

What he seems to be implying is that tension is only the horizontal component of force T. This I'm finding hard to digest.

 

[willem2]

Thanks for your time.
This is noted. Even with the rotated axis, T still has a vertical component.

What he seems to be implying is that tension is only the horizontal component of force T. This I'm finding hard to digest.

That isn't what he means. He means you can find the tension if you know the component in the x direction: T cos(theta)