Question

A picture is hanging from a wire whose two halves each make an angle of 45º with the horizontal x-axis, as shown. The tension in each side of the wire is 17 N. Find the vertical force that the wire exerts on the picture hook supporting it. 17 N 0 N 24 N 34 N

Answer 1

just about every force can be broken down into less complicated forces such as a 2D force, like we have here, can be broken down to a force in the y-direction and a force in the x-direction. The question is asking for the vertical force exerted on the hook. this just means the force in the y-direction. so look at the diagram i have drawn. which length of the triangle is in the y-direction? now look at the three equations there and find the one that could be used to solve for that length of the triangle and that would be the vertical force, but remember that this is the vertical force of ONE wire. there's two wired there.