Help finding the magnitude of the net force

In summary, three students are pulling on a textbook in different directions with different forces. Student A exerts a force of 61.88 N, student B pulls with a force of 31.92 N, and student C pulls with a force of 104.20 N at an angle of 80.8 degrees above the -x axis. The magnitude of the net force on the book can be found by resolving each force into its x and y components and adding them together. The angle of the resultant force with respect to the +x-axis can then be determined using the combined x and y components. It is important to assume the counter-clockwise direction to be positive and the clockwise direction to be negative.
  • #1
dragon18
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Three students converge on the last textbook in the store. All three grab it and begin to pull in the directions shown in the above figure. Student A exerts a force of 61.88 N, student B pulls with a force of 31.92 N, and student C pulls with a force of 104.20 N at an angle θ(theta)=80.8 degrees above the -x axis.
Considering these three forces (ignore the force of gravity on the book), what is the magnitude of the net force on the book?

Give the angle of the resultant force with respect to the +x-axis. Assume the counter-clockwise direction to be positive and the clockwise direction to be negative.


I honestly have no idea where to begin. I know how to find the net force with 2 forces being exerted but not three, and definitely not with an angle! I would really appreciate help, even if its just hints point me in the right direction!
 
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  • #2
dragon18 said:
Three students converge on the last textbook in the store. All three grab it and begin to pull in the directions shown in the above figure. Student A exerts a force of 61.88 N, student B pulls with a force of 31.92 N, and student C pulls with a force of 104.20 N at an angle θ(theta)=80.8 degrees above the -x axis.
Considering these three forces (ignore the force of gravity on the book), what is the magnitude of the net force on the book?

Give the angle of the resultant force with respect to the +x-axis. Assume the counter-clockwise direction to be positive and the clockwise direction to be negative.


I honestly have no idea where to begin. I know how to find the net force with 2 forces being exerted but not three, and definitely not with an angle! I would really appreciate help, even if its just hints point me in the right direction!

Welcome to the PF.

Just resolve each force into its x & y components, and add the components to get the resultant x & y components. Then you can convert that back into an overall force magnitude and direction.

Please show us your work on that (and post the diagram if you can too).
 

FAQ: Help finding the magnitude of the net force

What is net force?

Net force is the overall force acting on an object, taking into account the magnitude and direction of all individual forces acting on it.

How do I find the magnitude of the net force?

To find the magnitude of net force, you need to first identify all the individual forces acting on the object. Then, you can use vector addition to find the resultant force, which will be the net force acting on the object. The magnitude of the net force is the length of the resultant vector.

What is the difference between net force and individual forces?

Individual forces are the separate forces acting on an object, while net force is the combined effect of all these forces. Net force takes into account the direction and magnitude of each individual force to determine the overall effect on the object.

Can net force be negative?

Yes, net force can be negative. This means that the individual forces acting on the object are in opposite directions, resulting in a net force that is less than zero. This can cause the object to slow down or change direction.

Why is it important to calculate the net force?

Calculating the net force allows us to understand the overall effect of multiple forces acting on an object. It helps us predict the motion of the object and determine if it will accelerate, decelerate, or remain at a constant speed.

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