i can't be this dumb. can i?

RadiationX

only two horozontal forces act on a 3kg mass. one force is 9.0 N acting due east, and the other is 8.0 N acting 62 degrees north of west. what is the magintude of the body's acceleration.

The answer in the book is 2.9 m/s^2. but how can this be?

shouldn't the solution be (9 + 8cos(118))/3 = 1.74808 m/s^2 ?

stunner5000pt

you are missing a component of the force

Sure you got that first part right but you're missing the fact that there is ANOTHER COMPONENT of force being appleid on this object. You decomposed that 8N force in 8cos 62 and 8sin62 what hapopened to the 8sin62?

gnome

What about the northward component of the second force?

The book's answer is correct.

RadiationX

damn is all i can say

learningphysics

You can deal with x and y components separately as you did, or you can use trigonometry to add the two force vectors.

HallsofIvy

"i can't be this dumb. can i? "

Don't ask questions like that! You might not like the answers!

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RadiationX	i can't be this dumb. can i? Tweet only two horozontal forces act on a 3kg mass. one force is 9.0 N acting due east, and the other is 8.0 N acting 62 degrees north of west. what is the magintude of the body's acceleration. The answer in the book is 2.9 m/s^2. but how can this be? shouldn't the solution be (9 + 8cos(118))/3 = 1.74808 m/s^2 ?

stunner5000pt	you are missing a component of the force Sure you got that first part right but you're missing the fact that there is ANOTHER COMPONENT of force being appleid on this object. You decomposed that 8N force in 8cos 62 and 8sin62 what hapopened to the 8sin62?

gnome	What about the northward component of the second force? The book's answer is correct.

RadiationX	i can't be this dumb. can i? damn is all i can say

learningphysics Recognitions: Homework Help	You can deal with x and y components separately as you did, or you can use trigonometry to add the two force vectors.

HallsofIvy Recognitions: Gold Member Science Advisor Staff Emeritus	"i can't be this dumb. can i? " Don't ask questions like that! You might not like the answers!