Final answer:
To find the tension in each cable supporting a 15 kg traffic light, we first calculate the traffic light's weight (147 N) and then divide that by two, assuming the weight is evenly distributed, resulting in a tension of 73.5 N per cable, absent any specific angle indications.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the tension developed in the cable AB required to support the traffic light, which has a mass of 15 kg, we can start by calculating the weight of the traffic light using the equation T = wmg, where T is the tension, w is the weight, m is the mass, and g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s2).
In this case, w will be the total weight of the traffic light, which is the mass (m = 15 kg) multiplied by the acceleration due to gravity (g).
Therefore:
Weight (w) = m × g
Weight (w) = 15 kg × 9.8 m/s2
Weight (w) = 147 N
Now, considering that the traffic light is suspended by two cables, and assuming that the tension is equally distributed between them, each cable would need to support half of the weight of the traffic light.
Therefore, the tension in each cable would be 147 N / 2 = 73.5 N.