Final answer:
To calculate the tension in the cable when the masses are m₁ = 5.00 kg and m₂ = 3.00 kg, use Newton's second law and the formula T = m₁ * g + m₂ * g.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the tension in the cable, we can use Newton's second law. The tension force in the cable is equal to the sum of the forces acting on the system. In this case, we have the weight force of mass m1, the weight force of mass m2, and the tension force in the cable.
The weight force of an object is given by Fw = m * g, where m is the mass of the object and g is the acceleration due to gravity.
So, the tension in the cable can be calculated as T = m1 * g + m2 * g.