Final answer:
The tensile force in the cord connecting the cone to the bottom of the tank is equal to the buoyant force acting on the cone, which is 16.5 N.
Step-by-step explanation:
When an inverted cone is placed in water, it experiences an upward buoyant force equal to the weight of the water displaced by the cone. Since the weight of the cone is 16.5 N, the buoyant force acting on it is also 16.5 N in order to keep it in equilibrium. The tensile force in the cord connecting the cone to the bottom of the tank is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the buoyant force. Therefore, the tensile force in the cord is 16.5 N.