Problem 4: A load of 10.0 N is suspended by a clothes line (tanab). It distorts the line so that it makes an angle of 15⁰ with the horizontal at each end. Find the tension in the clothes line.

Solution

Strategy: See the figure. The load hanging to the clothes line is acting vertically downward. Tension in the string is balancing this force. Sure, the y-components of the tension on both sides are effective in cancelling the weight which acts vertically upward. So the sum of the y-components of the tension on both sides of the load must be equal to 10 N. (Remember sin15⁰ = 0.258).

Hence tension in the clothes line is 19.3 N.