1.

How much tension must a cable withstand if it is used to accelerate a 1200-

kg car vertically upward at 0.70 m/s2?

SOLUTION:

Free Body Diagram ∑ 𝐹=ma

FT – mg = ma
FT = m (g + a)
FT = (1200 kg) (9.8 m/s2 + 0.70 m/s2)
FT = 1.3 x 104 N

2. A large wrecking ball is held in place by two light steel cables. If the mass
m of the wrecking ball is 3620 kg, what are (a) the tension TB in the cable
that makes an angle of 40° with the vertical and (b) the tension TA in the
horizontal cable?

SOLUTION:

Free Body Diagram

 a. K∑ 𝐹 =0
𝑦

TB cos 40O– mg = 0
𝑚𝑔
TB =
cos 40°
𝑚
(3620 𝑘𝑔)(9.8 2 )
TB = 𝑠
cos 40°

TB = 4.63 x 104 N

b. K∑ 𝐹 =0
𝑥

TB sin 40O– TA = 0
TA =TB sin 40O
TA = 2.98 x 104 N

3. The system shown in the figure is used to lift an

object of mass m = 76.0 kg. A constant downward
force of magnitude F is applied to the loose end of
the rope such that the hanging object moves upward
at constant speed. Neglecting the masses of the rope
and pulleys, find the tensions T1, T2, and T3.

SOLUTION:

Free Body Diagram

a. k b. k c. k

Equation a. T2 – mg = 0
Equation b. 2T1 – T2 = 0
Equation c. T3 – 2T1 = 0
 2T1 – T2 = 0
2T1 = T2
𝑇2
T1 =
2
𝑚𝑔
T1 =
2
𝑚
(76.0 𝑘𝑔)(9.8 2 )
T1 = 𝑠
2

T1 = 372.4 N

T2 – mg = 0
T2 = mg

T3 – 2T1 = 0
T3 = 2T1 = mg
T3 = mg

T2 = T3 = mg
= (76.0 kg)(9.8 m/s2)
= 744.8 N

4. A 5.0-kg bucket of water is raised from a well by a rope. If the upward

acceleration of the bucket is 3.0 m/s2, find the force exerted by the rope on
the bucket.

SOLUTION:

Free Body Diagram ∑ 𝐹=ma

FT – mg = ma
FT = m (g + a)
FT = (5.0 kg) (9.8 m/s2 + 3.0 m/s2)
FT = 64 N
5. A rigid bar with a weight of 100 N is free to rotate about a frictionless hinge
at a wall and supported in a horizontal position by a spring scale attached
to the ceiling at an angle of 30O to the vertical, as shown. What force of
tension is indicated by the spring scale?

SOLUTION:

∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 0

Fhinge – w + Fspringscale = 0

Since hinge and spring scale are equidistant from the center of mass, each
supports 50 N.

Fspringscale = 50 N cos 30O

50
Fspringscale =
√3
2

Fspringscale = 57.74 N

6. A bird flies above the sky with a sign in its mouth. If the sign has a mass of
10 kg, then what is the tensional force in each cable?

SOLUTION: Sign
 Free Body Diagram

T1 T2

T1 = T2
∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 0

2T sin 60 – w = 0
2T sin 60 = w
2T sin 60 = mg
2T sin 60 = (9.8 m/s2)(10 kg)
𝑚
(9.8 2 )(10 𝑘𝑔)
𝑠
T=
2 sin 60°

T = 56.58 N

7. A 1130-kg car is held in place by a light cable on a very smooth (frictionless)

ramp. The cable makes an angle of 31.0° above the surface of the ramp,
and the ramp itself rises at 25.0° above the horizontal. (a) Draw a free-body
diagram for the car. (b) Find the tension in the cable.

SOLUTION:
a.) Free Body Diagram

b.) ∑
K 𝐹𝑥 = 0
T cos 31 – w sin 25 = 0
𝑤 sin 25°
T=
cos 31°

𝑚𝑔 sin 25°
T=
cos 31°
𝑚
(1130 𝑘𝑔)(9.8 2) sin 25°
𝑠
T=
cos 31°

T = 5459.93 N

8. In the figure shown, the weight w is 60.0 N. What is the tension in the
diagonal string?

SOLUTION:
 Free Body Diagram

T1

T2

T3

T3 = w
T3 = 60 N

∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 0

T2 sin 45 – T3 = 0
𝑇3
T=
sin 45°
60
T=
sin 45°

T = 84.85 N

9. A man with a weight of 200 N hangs from the middle of a tightly stretched
rope so that the angle between the rope and the horizontal direction is 5
degrees, as shown in the figure. Calculate the tension in the rope.

SOLUTION:
 Free Body Diagram

T2 T1

T1 = T2 = T
∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 0

T sin 5 + T sin 5 - w = 0
2T sin 5 - w = 0
2T sin 5 = w
2T sin 5 = 200 N
200
T=
2 sin 5°

T = 1,147.37 N

10. A solid uniform 45.0-kg ball of diameter 32.0 cm is supported against a

vertical, frictionless wall by a thin 30.0-cm wire of negligible mass. Draw a
free-body diagram for the ball and find the tension in the wire.

SOLUTION:
Free Body Diagram

The angle that the wire makes with the wall:

46 𝑐𝑚 sin ∅ = 16 𝑐𝑚
16 𝑐𝑚
∅ = 𝑠𝑖𝑛−1
46 𝑐𝑚
∅ = 20. 35O

∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 0

T cos ∅ - w = 0
𝑤
T=
cos ∅
𝑚𝑔
T=
cos ∅
𝑚
(45 𝑘𝑔)(9.8 2 )
𝑠
T=
sin 20.35°

T = 470.36 N