kudoushinichi88
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Homework Statement
A uniform rectangular plate of width d, height h, and weight W is supported with its top and bottom edges horizontal. At the lower left corner there is a inge, and the upper right corner there is a cable. For what angle \theta with the vertical will the tension in the cable be the least, and what is the tension?
Homework Equations
\tau=Fd
The Attempt at a Solution
for the angle, it's easy,
tan \theta = d/h
\theta=\arctan{d/h}
but I'm having trouble with the tension of the cable. I managed to derive
\frac{Wd}{2}=Td\cos{\theta}+Th\sin{\theta}
which gives T as
T=\frac{Wd}{2\left(d\cos{\theta}+h\sin{\theta})}
the answer given is
T=(Wd/2)\sqrt{h^2+d^2}
I seem to fail to see the connection
\sqrt{h^2+d^2}=\frac{1}{d\cos{\theta}+h\sin{\theta}}
can anyone show me why is this so?
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