Question

The ropes are now positioned in a different manner but still support the lantern that weighs

50 N. Is the total tension in the ropes less than, equal to, or greater than 50 N? How do you
know?

Answer 1

The total tension in the ropes is equal to the weight of the lantern, which is 50 N.

Step-by-step explanation:

Tension in the rope must equal the weight of the supported mass as per Newton's second law. If the 5.00 kg mass is stationary, then its acceleration is zero, so Fnet = 0. The only external forces acting on the mass are its weight W and the tension T supplied by the rope. Thus, Fnet = T - W = 0.

The total tension in the ropes is equal to the weight of the lantern. Since the lantern weighs 50 N, the total tension in the ropes will also be 50 N.