Basic Engineering Mechanics (trigonometry)

[ellieahlquist]

Homework Statement

Two forces P and Q are applied to the lid of a storage bin as shown (see picture). Knowing that P = 48N and Q = 60N, determine by trigonometry the magnitude and direction of the resultant of the two forces.

Homework Equations

"The triangle method" where you put each vector tip-to-tail, and then use components of one vector to make a right triangle (see picture).

Also, law of sines, law of cosines (??), and sin, cos, tan.
Pythagorean Thm

The Attempt at a Solution

As you can see, I turned the picture somewhat sideways so that Q lays flat.
I used simple trig to find P_x = 48cos30^o = 41.56 and P_y = 48sin30^o = 24. From there, I have a right angle and I know that one leg of the triagle is Q+P_x and the other is P_y. Using Pythagorean theorem, I got 104N, which is the right magnitude for the resultant.

My problem is the angle of the resultant. When I solve for the angle θ (between Q and R) in my picture, I get 13.3.
I used tanθ = 24/101.56
as well as the law of sines (104/sin150) = (48/sinθ)
both yield the 13.3^o.
Even adding 13.3 to the 25 degree angle lid and past the 55 degree Q vector, I still don't get the right answer (which is 86.7 degrees, with an angle symbol pointing into the second quadrant, not sure what that means either).

Thanks for any help.

 

[voko]

What is the resultant angle with the horizontal? If measured from the second quadrant?

 

[ellieahlquist]

What is the resultant angle with the horizontal? If measured from the second quadrant?

I guess that's what I'm trying to figure out.
I also find the wording in this problem poor because since the answer is 86.7 pointing to the second quadrant (??), does that mean it's 86.7 from the already 25 degree slant? or from the 1st quadrant x axis? or from where?

 

[voko]

I guess that's what I'm trying to figure out.

Are you saying you cannot answer the questions? You have calculated, correctly, the resultant angle with Q. But Q itself is not horizontal. Do you know its angle with the horizontal? What is the resultant angle with the horizontal then?

 

[ellieahlquist]

Are you saying you cannot answer the questions? You have calculated, correctly, the resultant angle with Q. But Q itself is not horizontal. Do you know its angle with the horizontal? What is the resultant angle with the horizontal then?

This was my first thought:
The lid is 25 degrees from horizontal plus an additional 55 degrees to get to Q. 25+55=80
So I am at 80 degrees, and if the resultant vector is 13.3 degrees from Q, that's 93.3 degrees.
I'm still missing something because the answer is 86.7 degrees.

But now:
I think I understand what you meant by saying "if measured from the second quadrant." For some reason I didn't take that as from the -x axis. So I have 180 degree horizontal, minus the 25, minus the 55, then I have 100. and 100-13.3 is 86.7 degrees. But I definitely wouldn't have figured that out. Thanks.

 

[voko]

This is just something to keep in mind. This is done frequently, even if it is confusing. We just prefer angles less than 90 degrees.