Resolving Forces: Find Magnitude & Angle w/ Ox

In summary, Cathy is looking for help with drawing a diagram for a question involving forces P, Q, R, and S acting on a particle at point O. She has already drawn a diagram but needs help with labeling the forces correctly. The question also involves finding the magnitude of the resultant and the angle it makes with the horizontal axis when given specific values for the forces and angles. The conversation also includes a reminder to use the triangle law of vector addition and to divide the forces into horizontal and vertical components.
  • #1
CathyLou
173
1
Hi.

Could someone please show me how to draw the diagram for the following question as I am really stuck. I would really appreciate any help.

I have already drawn a diagram but must have labelled the forces incorrectly as my subsequent answers do not match the ones in the back of the textbook.

Forces P, Q, R and S act on a particle at O in the plane of the coordinate axes Ox, Oy, making angles p, q, r, s respectively with Ox, each angle being measured in the anticlockwise sense. Find the magnitude of the resultant and the angle it makes with Ox when:

(a) P = 2N, Q = 3N, R = 4N, S = 5N p = 0, q = 40, r = 100, s = 150


Thank you.

Cathy
 
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  • #2
Do you know the triangle law of vector addition? Use it. You have the angles, and the magnitudes...
 
  • #3
chaoseverlasting said:
Do you know the triangle law of vector addition? Use it. You have the angles, and the magnitudes...

Thanks for your help.

I'm not sure what the angles are from anticlockwise.

Cathy
 
  • #4
divide the forces into horizontal and vertical components...

what is the horizontal component of P? what is the vertical component of P?
 

What is the purpose of resolving forces?

The purpose of resolving forces is to break down a single force into its components, allowing for a more accurate analysis of the forces acting on a system. This can help in determining the magnitude and direction of the forces, as well as their effects on the system.

How do you find the magnitude of a force using resolving forces?

To find the magnitude of a force using resolving forces, you must first break the force down into its horizontal and vertical components. Then, you can use Pythagorean theorem to calculate the magnitude of the force vector by using the horizontal and vertical components as the sides of a right triangle.

What is the angle associated with a resolved force?

The angle associated with a resolved force is the angle between the horizontal axis and the vector representing the force's direction. This angle can be calculated using trigonometric functions, such as tangent or sine, depending on the given information.

What are some common applications of resolving forces?

Resolving forces is commonly used in engineering and physics to analyze and design structures, predict the motion of objects, and calculate the forces acting on a system. It is also used in fields such as aerospace, civil engineering, and mechanical engineering.

How do you handle forces that are not aligned with the x-axis and y-axis?

When dealing with forces that are not aligned with the x-axis and y-axis, you must first determine the angle between the force vector and the x-axis. Then, you can use trigonometric functions to calculate the horizontal and vertical components of the force, and ultimately resolve the force into its components.

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