Im doing a problem on The Russell traction apparatus and I solved the weight to be 76N. The second part of the problem asks what the angle is if the traction force is 19.4N horizontally.

Question

My initial thought was to use half of the weight as the y-comp and 19.4 for as the x-comp to determine theta, but did not work.

What is this traction force and how do I use it to solve for the angle?

Answer 1

I cant do this because I don't know how the pulleys are attached. Perhaps this sample problem will help. See sample problem 5-16 on page 88

http://books.google.com/books?id=gzOIX-gFgAUC&pg=PA88&lpg=PA88&dq=russell+traction+physics&source=web&ots=uf9P0Ww_An&sig=-ONLIEyJSeU8UvuPETnXoEw-hP4