Calculating Components of Force: Understanding the F1 = 97g@338 Degrees Equation

[neoncrazy101]

Hello guys, I just have a simple question and I hope it doesn't get deleted or anything but anyways... The question is, "If F1 = 97g@338 degrees, then its components are?"

Then in my book it gives me three answers and I have to pick the correct one...

A: F1x = 29g, F1y = 93g
B: F1x = -53g, F1y = 81g
C: F1x = 90g, F1y = -36g.

Now then, when I draw the picture, the 338 degree's is in quadrant 4 thus giving me a negative y value. So I chose answer C but I can't for the life of me figure out how to figure it out algebraically. I thought it was just something along the lines of 97cos(338) but its not. I have re-read my book and even got into my old high school physics book but I could NOT find the equation I should use to find it... So does anyone know how to set the equation up to figure this out?

 

[PhanthomJay]

Hello guys, I just have a simple question and I hope it doesn't get deleted or anything but anyways... The question is, "If F1 = 97g@338 degrees, then its components are?"

Then in my book it gives me three answers and I have to pick the correct one...

A: F1x = 29g, F1y = 93g
B: F1x = -53g, F1y = 81g
C: F1x = 90g, F1y = -36g.

Now then, when I draw the picture, the 338 degree's is in quadrant 4 thus giving me a negative y value. So I chose answer C

Good observation!

but I can't for the life of me figure out how to figure it out algebraically. I thought it was just something along the lines of 97cos(338) but its not. I have re-read my book and even got into my old high school physics book but I could NOT find the equation I should use to find it... So does anyone know how to set the equation up to figure this out?

Is your calculator set to degrees? 97 cos 338 is 90, the x component. What's the calculation for the y component?

Wecome to PF!

 

[neoncrazy101]

OMG that was it. It wasn't set to degree's, it was set to Radians. I changed the setting and I got 90. Thanks!

and 90tan(338) = -36 = y. Or 97sin338 = -36 as well.

Btw, I'll probably be here a lot. I just started my first college physics course and sadly I had to take it as an online class so I'll have a lot of questions.