A 7.6 kg watermelon is placed at one end of a 5.9 m, 245 N scaffolding supported by two cables. One supporting cable is at the opposite end of the scaffolding, and the other is 0.63 m from the watermelon. How much tension is in the cable at the end of the scaffolding? The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s 2.

98.952≅ 99 N

Explanation:

Since you don't know the tension in the cable 0.63 m from the watermelon, use this as your axis.

Clockwise moments:

(245) (2.32)

This is the weight of the scaffolding, acting in the middle of the board. Since we took the cable as the axis, instead of 3.25 m as the distance, it's 2.15 m, the distance from the cable to the middle of the board.

Counterclockwise moments:

(T) (5.27) + (7.6) (9.8) (0.63)

The other cable and the weight of the watermelon.

These need to be equal to each other.

(T) (5.27) + (7.6) (9.8) (0.63) = (245) (2.32)

Solving for T, and you should get 98.952≅ 99 N