1. ## statics

a particle of weight W is suspended from a light inelastic string of length 2a. the other end of the string is attached to a small ring of weight W which is free to slide along a a rough horizontal wire. the coefficient of friction between the wire and the ring is 3/4. the particle hangs below the ring and a horizontal force is applied to the particle which pulls it to one side. the line of action of the force, the string and the wire are all in the same vertical plane. find the largest horizontal force that can be applied to the particle so that the ring does not slip on the wire and find the angle at which the string makes.

i am not sure what to do here. should i use moments ?

2. ## Re: statics

free-body diagrams attached

I get $F_{max} = \dfrac{3W}{2}$

$\theta_{max} \approx 56^\circ$

3. ## Re: statics

thanks
i am getting F is less or equal to $(6Tcosa)/4$

a stands for theta.

i am lost in all the equations to get the answer

4. ## Re: statics

oh ye i get it now as $w=Tcosa$

i had to use the greater of equal to symbol solving it the whole way throughout.