Forces: find angle without x/y components?

AI Thread Summary
To determine the angle at which the man pulls the package, the problem involves a force of 40 N and an acceleration of 3.5 m/s², with friction neglected. The relationship between force, mass, and acceleration can be used to find the necessary horizontal force to achieve the given acceleration. The angle can be calculated using trigonometric functions, specifically involving the sine and cosine of the angle, but the user struggles with the lack of x and y components. A diagram was drawn to visualize the problem, leading to a realization of the necessary force required for horizontal acceleration.
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Homework Statement


I just can't seem to find anything that I can relate to for solving this problem and it's giving me a headache.

I don't even know how to start solving this question. Please help:

A man drags a package across the floor with a force of 40 N. The mass of the package is 10 kg. If the acceleration of the package is 3.5 m/s^2 and friction can be neglected, at what angle to the horizontal does the man pull?

Homework Equations


I know that the angle would normally be inversetan(opp/adj) given the x and y components, or for the x/y components it would be hyp. x cos(angle) or hyp. x sin (angle).
I don't have either one though?

The Attempt at a Solution


I drew out a diagram and I cannot find any examples whatsoever in my notes OR online that isn't overly complex with a bunch of coefficients I don't understand, or just the wrong frickin equations every single time I try to look it up.
 
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Think about the package accelerating. It's accelerating horizontally across the floor. If you were pulling it horizontally, what size of force would be needed to achieve that acceleration?
 
I think I got it, thanks.
 

Thread 'Errors and significant figures'

I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
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Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
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