Final answer:
The force in cable AB needed to support the 28-kg flowerpot is 274.4 N.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the force in cable AB needed to support the 28-kg flowerpot, we need to consider the forces acting on the system.
Since the flowerpot is at rest, the vertical forces must balance out. The weight of the flowerpot, which is the force due to gravity, can be calculated using the formula F = mg, where m is the mass of the flowerpot (28 kg) and g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s^2). So, the weight of the flowerpot is 28 kg * 9.8 m/s^2 = 274.4 N.
To support the flowerpot, the tension in cable AB must be equal to the weight of the flowerpot. Therefore, the force in cable AB needed to support the flowerpot is 274.4 N.