A basket weighing 0.3kg is suspended from two ropes which are tied to a horizontal beam. The rope on the left is at an angle of 63° and the rope on the right is at an angle of 32° with respect to the beam. What mass of rocks could be placed in the bucket before the ropes break if the maximum tension the ropes can stand before snapping is 85N?

Answer 1

T1*sin(180-63) + T2*sin32 = -Mg*sin270.
85*sin117 + 85*sin32 = Mg.
75.74 + 45 = Mg.
Mg = 120.8 N., max.
M = 120.8/9.8 = 12.32 Kg, max.

0.3 + Mr = 12.32.
Mr = 12.02 Kg = Mass of the hocks.