202202071039 Dynamics Figures (Elementary) Q2

The ends of a rope are fastened at separate but horizontal points on a ceiling. A 10\,\mathrm{lb} weight is hung from the rope such that the two segments of the rope make angles of 30^\circ and 45^\circ with the ceiling. Compute the tension in each segment of the rope.

Extracted from R. L. Gray. (1973). Physics Problems: Mechanics and Heat.


Solution.

Draw a free-body diagram below:

Separating the vertical and the horizontal component:

\begin{aligned} T_1\cos 45^\circ + T_2\cos 60^\circ & = W \\ T_1\sin 45^\circ & = T_2\sin 60^\circ \\ \end{aligned}

we have two equations with two unknowns (i.e., T_1 and T_2).

The rest is left the reader as an exercise.