Question

In the figure below the left-hand cable has a

tension T1 and makes an angle of 55 ◦ with
the horizontal. The right-hand cable has a
tension T3 and makes an angle of 44 ◦ with
the horizontal. A W1 weight is on the left
and a W2 weight is on the right. The cable
connecting the two weights has a tension 39 N
and is horizontal.
The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s^2

Determine the mass M2 in units of Kg

Answer 1

To find the mass M2, use the horizontal tension (39 N) and divide it by the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s^2), yielding approximately 4 kg as the mass for M2.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the mass M2 when given that the cable has a tension of 39 N and the acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 m/s2, we can use the fact that the tension in the cable is the force due to gravity on the weight W2. Since the cable is horizontal, the tension in the cable directly relates to the weight of M2 through the equation T = M2 × g, where T is the tension and g is the acceleration of gravity.

Solving this equation gives us the mass M2 = T / g, which is M2 = 39 N / 9.8 m/s2 = 3.98 kg. The mass of M2 is therefore approximately 4 kg when rounded to two significant figures.