Question

A kite is hovering over the ground at the end of a straight 38-m line. the tension in the line has a magnitude of 17 n. wind blowing on the kite exerts a force of 18 n, directed 60° above the horizontal. note that the line attached to the kite is not oriented at an angle of 60° above the horizontal. find the height of the kite, relative to the person holding the line.

Answer 1

Let the tension in the thread will be at angle theta

now by force balance in  x and y directions we can say

$17 cos\theta = 18 cos60$

$17 cos\theta = 9$

$\theta = 58.03 degree$

now for the height of the kite we can use

$h = L sin\theta$

$h = 38 sin58.03$

$h = 32.23 m$

so it will be at height 32.23 m from ground