Two weights are hanging as shown in the figure .
Find the tension in cable A if w_1 = 51.0 N and w_2 = 200 N.

Question

Two weights are hanging as shown in the figure .
Find the tension in cable A if w_1 = 51.0 N and w_2 = 200 N.

anonymous · Answer

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anonymous · Answer

i thought its suppose to be t2-t1=fa but im wrong

amistre64 · Answer

why wouldnt the tension in A just be the weight of whats hanging from it?

anonymous · Answer

it is but i dont understand why?

anonymous · Answer

If there was no mass hanging from string A, would there be a tension in the string? no, because there would be nothing hanging from it (nothing pulling it down). BUT in this example there is something hanging from it, so we can se that the only thing that effects the tension on the string is the mass hanging from it.

anonymous · Answer

what about the mass above it . isnt that mass pulling it up

anonymous · Answer

If you had some string, and it was tied to a table with a rock hanging from it, the tension in the string would be due to the rock. Now if we took that same string and rock and hung it from a swing at a playground (similar to the system you have) then the tension in the string would still be due to the rock, (it doesn't matter where we hang the rock/string the tension in the string will be the same)
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