# Statics Question: Finding resultant force and orientation

by Chandasouk
Tags: force, orientation, resultant, statics
 P: 165 Determine the magnitude of the resultant force FR. Assume that F1 = 230 and F2 = 395 Express your answer to three significant figures and include the appropriate units. Determine the direction of the resultant force FR , measured counterclockwise from the positive x axis. I got the magnitude as 402lb which is correct, but I am having trouble finding the direction of the force. I have the following work below So I get $\phi$=71.6 degrees Now the first quadrant has an angle from F1 to the x axis that measures at 60 degrees. What I did was 71.6-60 degrees = 11.6 degrees and said that was the angle of the resultant force, but this answer is wrong. Can anyone explain how to find the angle? Should I be subtracting 360 from 11.6 degrees instead since it wants the position counterclockwise?
 HW Helper Thanks P: 5,601 Why don't you find the components of F1 and F2 and add them to determine the resultant?

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