A scientific sensor unit, SSS, of mass M M\,M kg is suspended from a horizontal overhead crane beam by two light, inelastic steel cables. The cable attached to point P P\,P on the beam has a length of 2.5 m. The cable attached to point Q Q\,Q on the beam has a length of 1.7 m. The sensor unit hangs in equilibrium at a vertical depth of exactly 1.5 m below the level of the beam.
Show that the tension in the shorter cable is exactly 70% greater than the tension in the longer cable.
Given that the tension in the shorter cable is 3.4g Newtons, calculate the value of MMM.
130 exam-style questions on Edexcel A Level Maths Applications of Forces, covering 7.1 Static Particles, 7.2 Modelling with Statics, 7.3 Friction and Static Particles, 7.4 Static Rigid Bodies, 7.5 Dynamics and Inclined Planes, and 7.6 Connected Particles 2. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.