Final answer:
To find the maximum mass of the lamp that the cord system can support, set up an inequality using the tension in each cord. Solve the inequality to determine the maximum mass that the cord system can support.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the maximum mass of the lamp that the cord system can support, we need to consider the tension in each cord. Since no single cord should develop a tension exceeding 420 N, we can set up an inequality to find the maximum mass. Let's assume the mass of the lamp is 'm' kg. The tension in each cord can be calculated as:
- Tension in first cord: 2m × g (where g is the acceleration due to gravity)
- Tension in second cord: m × g + 420 N (to account for the additional tension)
We can equate each tension to 420 N and solve for 'm' to find the maximum mass that the cord system can support.