Final answer:
The tension in the cable supporting a 5kg ball is equal to the weight of the ball. Tension is given by T = W = mg, where m is the mass of the ball and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tension in the cable supporting the 5kg ball is equal to the weight of the ball. According to Newton's second law, when the mass is stationary, the net force acting on it is zero.
Therefore, the tension T in the cable must balance the weight W of the ball. Mathematically, T = W = mg, where m is the mass of the ball and g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s^2).