Two cables, each carrying a tensile force P= 1200 lb, are bolted to a block of steel (see figure). The block has thickness t = 1 in. and width b = 3 in.
(a) If the diameter d of the cable is 0.25 in., what are the maximum tensile and compressive stresses σt and σc, respectively, in the block?
(b) If the diameter of the cable is increased (without changing the force P), what happens to the maximum tensile and compressive stresses?
