Physics help needed?

Question

A small sphere of mass 'm' is suspended by a string from the ceiling of a car. The car starts moving with acceleration 'a'. Find the tension generated in the string in terms of 'm', 'a' and 'g'.

'g' is acceleration due to gravity.

Answer 1

picture it...

gravity is pulling the mass downward.

the motion forward is pushing the mass toward the rear.

sort of looks like two sides of a right triangle.

the tension in the string is probably the length of the third side.

no?