---
title: "A rigid T-frame consists of two identical thin uniform rods, each of mass \\(M\\) and length \\(L\\), rigidly welded together in a vertical plane. One rod is horizontal, and the second rod is vertical with its top end welded to the midpoint of the horizontal rod. The frame is initially held in static equilibrium in a horizontal orientation by two vertical, light support cables attached to the opposite ends of the horizontal rod, labeled Cable 1 and Cable 2. Cable 2 is suddenly cut. Immediately after Cable 2 is cut, what is the tension in Cable 1?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/124467/"
date_modified: "2026-09-28T14:05:50+00:00"
---

# A rigid T-frame consists of two identical thin uniform rods, each of mass \(M\) and length \(L\), rigidly welded together in a vertical plane. One rod is horizontal, and the second rod is vertical with its top end welded to the midpoint of the horizontal rod. The frame is initially held in static equilibrium in a horizontal orientation by two vertical, light support cables attached to the opposite ends of the horizontal rod, labeled Cable 1 and Cable 2. Cable 2 is suddenly cut. Immediately after Cable 2 is cut, what is the tension in Cable 1?

A rigid T-frame consists of two identical thin uniform rods, each of mass \(M\) and length \(L\), rigidly welded together in a vertical plane. One rod is horizontal, and the second rod is vertical with its top end welded to the midpoint of the horizontal rod. The frame is initially held in static equilibrium in a horizontal orientation by two vertical, light support cables attached to the opposite ends of the horizontal rod, labeled Cable 1 and Cable 2. Cable 2 is suddenly cut. Immediately after Cable 2 is cut, what is the tension in Cable 1?

![A schematic diagram showing a rigid composite T-frame in a vertical plane. A horizontal solid bar of length \(L\) has two vertical support cables extending straight upward from its ends to a horizontal ceiling line. The left cable is labeled Cable 1 and the right cable is labeled Cable 2. A second vertical solid bar of length \(L\) is welded perpendicularly to the midpoint of the horizontal bar, extending straight downward. The horizontal bar has mass \(M\) and length \(L\), and the vertical bar has mass \(M\) and length \(L\). A small dashed slash is shown across Cable 2 indicating a cut. A downward arrow labeled \(g\) indicates the direction of gravitational acceleration. No other labels, lines, text, or axes appear.](https://nerd-notes.com/wp-content/uploads/ubq-frq-generated/stem-fig-1-1790604350-7Ge93h.jpg)

- **A.** \(\dfrac{1}{2}Mg\)
- **B.** \(\dfrac{3}{4}Mg\)
- **C.** \(\dfrac{10}{11}Mg\)
- **D.** \(Mg\)

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/124467/*