Question

In a farm yard, a 20.0-kg light is suspended from a light beam on the end of a tall pole. The beam is supported by an arm that attaches to the beam at the suspension point of the light, as shown in the diagram below. The arm makes an angle of 50.0 with the pole. Ignore the weight of the beam and of the arm.

(a) In which parts of the light suspension system is there tension and in which parts is there compression?
(b) Draw a free-body diagram to represent the forces exerted around the suspension point of the light.
(c) If the angle between the supporting arm and the pole were decreased, what would be the effect on each of the forces represented, and why would it have this effect?
(d) Calculate the forces exerted at the suspension point of the light.