A pickup truck tailgate supports a crate (WC 150 lb), as shown in the figure

Mechanical Engineering Jan 27, 2021

A pickup truck tailgate supports a crate (WC 150 lb),
as shown in the figure. The tailgate weighs WT 60 lb
and is supported by two cables (only one is shown in
the figure). Each cable has an effective cross-sectional area
Ae 0.017 in2.
(a) Find the tensile force T and normal stress in each
cable.
(b) If each cable elongates 0.01 in. due to the
weight of both the crate and the tailgate, what is the
average strain in the cable?