During a storm, a tree limb breaks off and comes to rest across a barbed wire fence at a point that is not in the middle between two fence posts. the limb exerts a downward force of 286 n on the wire. the left section of the wire makes an angle of 12.7° relative to the horizontal and sustains a tension of 433 n. find the (a) magnitude and (b) direction (as an angle relative to horizontal) of the tension that the right section of the wire sustains.

Explanation:

Weight, W = 286 N

Tension in the left wire, T1 = 433 N

α = 12.7°

let the tension in the right wire is T2 and angle with the horizontal is β.

Make the components and maintain the equilibrium

(a)

Equilibrium of forces along x axis

   .... (1)

Equilibrium of forces along y axis

    .... (2)

Squarring equation (1) and (2) and then add

T2 = 463.5 N

(b) Divide equation (2) by (1)

β = 24.2°

(a) T2 be the tension in right wire

Use

force required to detach it is given by

charges are taken to be fundamental charge

now we have

so above is the minimum distance at which it will detach