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If a cable is attached to a support on each side, and there is a load acting on it somewhere along its length.

Is there going to be a vertical reaction force only if the the cable is angled?

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The reaction force is a vector in the direction (or opposite) of the cable.

Note that the only way to have a horizontal cable is by having the other support higher. But if you do, a horizontal vector will resolve into only a horizontal force. The sin of 0 is zero, so an angle of zero will yield zero vertical force.

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  • $\begingroup$ Say there is a simple support attached to the horizontal part, and the horizontal part experiences a load Fh due to something hanging from it, while still remaining horizontal. That would mean there is only a horizontal force, but what about the simple support? It will have a horizontal reaction force equal in size to the horizontal load exerted on the horizontal cable, but will there also be vertical reaction forces from the simple support? $\endgroup$
    – kokos115
    Commented Jan 9, 2023 at 22:41
  • $\begingroup$ All forces will resolve back to the support, wherever it attaches. But I don't understand how something hangs with a horizontal force. Gravity is vertical. A horizontal cable will not pass any vertical load. A cable strung from equal supports must have some droop. Any cable with a weight strung from it in this way will have a deflection unless you can apply infinite tension. $\endgroup$
    – Tiger Guy
    Commented Jan 10, 2023 at 3:14

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