Question

A clothesline is strung between two posts, and wet clothing weighing $200N$ is hung on the line, which sags under the weight of the clothes. If one end of the line is pulled to straighten the line, which of the following would be true?
I. The tension in the rope undergoes a large increase.
II. The tension in the rope undergoes a large decrease.
III. The weight in the rope undergoes a large increase

• A. I only
• B. II only
• C. I and III only
• D. II and III only
• E. I, II, and III

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

I only

Before pulling the line , the vertical components of tension were balancing the weight of wet clothes. Now to straighten the line we increase the vertical components of tension , because these are opposite to the weight , or we can say we increase the tension in line .

Weight of the wet clothes is constant , acting vertically downwards.