A crate with a mass of 163.5 kg is suspended from the end of a uniform boom with a mass of 87.5 kg. The upper end of the boom is supported by a cable attached to the wall and the lower end by a pivot (marked X) on the same wall. Calculate the tension in the cable.

Question

anonymous · Answer

attachment

jmcs1985 · Answer

Hi @witthan1! Did they give you an angles for the problem?

anonymous · Answer

No :/ Unfortunately this is all the information they gave me

jmcs1985 · Answer

I like a challenge!

anonymous · Answer

Okay first lets find the angle between the boom and the ground. Do you know how to do this?

anonymous · Answer

I'm sorry, I need to get going... good luck!

anonymous · Answer

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Calculate left and right handed torques, equate them and solve for T. $$\theta$$ is given by$$\cos \theta = 5/\sqrt{34}$$ and$$\sin \theta = 3/\sqrt{34}$$

jmcs1985 · Answer

First, let's draw out what we know
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The trick with this problem is that the main point of interest is at the point on the beam where the main cable and the weighted cable (attached to the mass) meet. So, we have to sum all of the forces in the x and y directions to determine the tension.