1. Signs and Tightropes Answers
1. A sign is suspended as seen at right.
The tension in the chain is 550 N and
sign weighs 360 N. Find the angle the
makes with the horizontal. x
EAT
360 N
The tension vector can be broken into
components; the vertical component
must match the weight
550 N
360 N x
Then the angle can be found from
opp
360
sin x = = =
hyp
550
x = sin -1 ( )
= o

2. Signs and Tightropes Answers
2. A sign is suspended as seen at right.
The sign weighs 400 N and the chain
makes an angle of 35o with the horizontal.
Find the tension in the chain.
35o
400 N
JOE’S T
The tension vector can be broken into
components; the vertical component
must match the weight
400 N
35o
From SOH-CAH-TOA:
opp
400 T
400 T
sin 35 = =
T =
hyp T
sin 35
T sin 35 = 400
T = 697 N
sin sin 35

3. 4. A tightrope walker of mass 60 kg is standing in the middle of a
tightrope 20.0 m long. The angle that the rope makes with the
horizontal is 5.0o. Determine the tension in the rope.
T = ? 5o
Wt.
Wt. = m g
= ( 60 kg )( 9.8 m/s2 ) = 588 N

4. 4. A tightrope walker of mass 60 kg is standing in the middle of a
tightrope 20.0 m long. The angle that the rope makes with the
horizontal is 5.0o. Determine the tension in the rope.
T = ?
294 N 5o
588 N
opp
294 T
294 T
sin 5 = =
T =
hyp T
sin 5
T sin 5 = 294
T = N
sin sin 5

5. 5. A sign is hung from a chain that can withstand a tension of 1000 N
before it breaks. The chain will make a 40o with the horizontal. What
is the maximum weight the sign can have without the chain
breaking?
1000 N
40o
opp
Wt.
1000
1000
sin 40 = =
hyp
1000
EAT
Wt. = ?
Wt. = 643 N
1000 N
Wt.
40o