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Floris
Floris
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You can indeed balance the horizontal forces at each point, and the sum of vertical components should equal the weight.

That does seem to leave you with an over constrained problem (four equations with three unknowns) which will only have a solution when the angles are chosen "just so".

If one of the angles was not given you could solve. Pick one and prove that the value for the angle you calculate is the once given... Or prove that there is no solution! Although it is easier to assume the angles as given, and make one of the weights "unknown". Then solve for the value of the weight that gets you the angles.

You can indeed balance the horizontal forces at each point, and the sum of vertical components should equal the weight.

That does seem to leave you with an over constrained problem (four equations with three unknowns) which will only have a solution when the angles are chosen "just so".

If one of the angles was not given you could solve. Pick one and prove that the value for the angle you calculate is the once given... Or prove that there is no solution!

You can indeed balance the horizontal forces at each point, and the sum of vertical components should equal the weight.

That does seem to leave you with an over constrained problem (four equations with three unknowns) which will only have a solution when the angles are chosen "just so".

If one of the angles was not given you could solve. Pick one and prove that the value for the angle you calculate is the once given... Or prove that there is no solution! Although it is easier to assume the angles as given, and make one of the weights "unknown". Then solve for the value of the weight that gets you the angles.

Source Link
Floris
Floris
  • 119.5k
  • 13
  • 224
  • 406

You can indeed balance the horizontal forces at each point, and the sum of vertical components should equal the weight.

That does seem to leave you with an over constrained problem (four equations with three unknowns) which will only have a solution when the angles are chosen "just so".

If one of the angles was not given you could solve. Pick one and prove that the value for the angle you calculate is the once given... Or prove that there is no solution!