Final answer:
Tension in a clothesline or wire depends on the angle (θ) with the horizontal, with it becoming impractical at θ=0° due to theoretically infinite tension, and decreasing as θ approaches 90°. The equation for tension in a flexible medium is T = F/2 sin(θ).
Step-by-step explanation:
The tension at the ends of a clothesline or wire and the tension at the lowest point depend on the angle θ with the horizontal. If θ=0°, the line would be perfectly horizontal and the tension would approach infinity, which is not practical or possible. As θ approaches 90°, the tension in the line would decrease, theoretically reaching zero tension if the line were to hang vertically. However, in reality, even at high angles, the line would still need to support the weight of any objects hanging from it or the weight of the wire itself, so the tension cannot be zero.
when dealing with forces on a flexible medium, the tension T can be described by the equation T = F/2 sin(θ), where F is the force exerted at the center of the flexible medium. This equation helps determine the tension in situations where a force is applied perpendicular to the medium, such as in the case of a tightrope walker.