A body of mass m is suspended by two strings making angles alpha_(1) and alpha_(2) with the horizontal. Find the tension in the strings.

A body of mass m is suspended by two strings making angles alpha_(1) a

1.	A body of mass m is suspended by two strings making angles alpha_(1) and alpha_(2) with the horizontal. Find the tension in the strings.
Answer» Solution :As the weights are suspended from the midpoints, the tensions in the two sides are the same. If it is T then resultant of upward components of T = T sin`ALPHA + T sin alpha = 2 T " " sin alpha`. At equilibrium, the resultant has to BALANCE the weight. THUS, when the value of `alpha` is small, the value of T is large. In this CASE, ` T_(1)= (W)/(2 sin alpha_(1)) and T_(2) = (W)/(2 sin alpha_(2))` As `alpha_(1) gt alpha_(2) , T_(2) gt T_(1),` i.e., the second string has a higher tension.