Components of A Resultant Force

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem involving the resultant force acting on a box when forces are applied at different angles. The original poster presents a scenario where a 10 N force is applied at a 40° angle, and questions whether the same effect on acceleration would occur if the force were applied as two separate components: 6.4 N vertically and 7.7 N horizontally.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the equivalence of component vectors to their resultant force and question whether the acceleration would be the same when applying forces in different configurations.

Discussion Status

Some participants affirm the original poster's understanding of vector components and suggest that the acceleration would be the same in both scenarios, while others provide additional insights into the relationship between the forces and acceleration.

Contextual Notes

There is an assumption that the mass of the box remains constant, and the discussion touches on the implications of applying forces in parallel and perpendicular directions.

Bashyboy
Messages
1,419
Reaction score
5
The following problem is one I have contrived by my own ability, so if there is any error please let me know.

Say I have a box, with a chain attached at one of the edges of the box, and I apply 10 N pull at a 40° angle with the surface of the box. Now I know we sometimes resolve vectors into their components for mere convenience of the addition of vectors. So in this case, we have a horizontal component of 7.7 N, and vertical component of 6.4 N. My question is: if I to pull with 6.4 N vertically, and a friend pull with 7.7 N horizontally, would the box accelerate in the same way if I were to only one force of 10 N at a 40° angle with the surface of the box?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
you got it!
Two component vectors ARE equivalent to their total... just like 6.4 plus 7.7 equals 14.1...in that case the vectors point in the same direction...and if they were in opposite directions 6.4 - 7.7 is equivalent to -1.3...[signs are arbitrary]
 
Wow, thanks!
 
Yes, the accelaration in both cases would be the same because in both cases, he forces acting in the parallel and perpendicular directions would be the same, and since there is no question of variable mass, so the forces will produce the same accelaration.
 

Similar threads

Force pulling on a string at an angle with a block at the other end
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Understanding Forces and their Vector Components
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
1K
Final momentum of box with reflective interior hit by ideal laser
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
Torque biomechanics
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Vector problem, magnitude of the force
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
2K
Calculating Forces in a Leg: Gait Analysis and Joint Reaction Force
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Calculate electric force using Coulomb's law (vector components are the struggle)
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Find the magnitude of the electric field at point P
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Find the tension in the two strings
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Find g, measured to be 9.78 at the equator, when Earth is still
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
2K