Thread: Finding the angles of a pulley using vector

1. Finding the angles of a pulley using vector

Find $\phi$ and $\theta$

2. Re: Finding the angles of a pulley using vector

Break the force at w2 into horizontal and vertical components. The horizontal component is $T_1cos(\theta)- T_2cos(\phi)= 0$ while the vertical force is $T_1 sin(\theta)+ T_2 sin(\phi)= w2$. In terms of the weights, $T_1= w_1$ and $T_2= w_3$. Solve the two equations $w_1cos(\theta)- w_3cos(\phi)= 0$ and $w_1 sin(\theta)+ w_3sin(\phi)= w_2$ for $\theta$ and $\phi$.

3. Re: Finding the angles of a pulley using vector

Originally Posted by HallsofIvy
Break the force at w2 into horizontal and vertical components. The horizontal component is $T_1cos(\theta)- T_2cos(\phi)= 0$ while the vertical force is $T_1 sin(\theta)+ T_2 sin(\phi)= w2$. In terms of the weights, $T_1= w_1$ and $T_2= w_3$. Solve the two equations $w_1cos(\theta)- w_3cos(\phi)= 0$ and $w_1 sin(\theta)+ w_3sin(\phi)= w_2$ for $\theta$ and $\phi$.
$\theta = sin^{-1}( \frac{w_1^2+w_2^2-w_3^2}{2w_1w_2})$
$\phi = sin^{-1}( \frac{w_2^2+w_3^2-w_1^2}{2w_2w_3})$