An Angry Bird sits on a clothes line midway between the two poles.

Question

bird on line

If the combined weight of the bird and rope is W, what is the tension in the rope in terms of θ and W?

Select one:
a. W cosθ / sinθ
b. W tanθ
c. W/(2sinθ)
d. W/(2cosθ)

Answer 1

θ is not defined. It is assumed to be the angle with the horizontal.

By finding resultant of two cables at θ with horizontal.
W=2Tsin(θ)
Solve for T=tension in one of the cables.

Answer 2

W/(2sinθ)