The discussion revolves around calculating vector components in physics, specifically focusing on two vectors and their respective x and y components. Participants are exploring the application of trigonometric functions to resolve these vectors.
Participants are actively engaging with the problem, offering calculations and questioning the assumptions regarding the angles and the application of trigonometric definitions. There is no explicit consensus yet, but the conversation is moving towards clarifying the correct approach to resolving the vectors.
There appears to be confusion regarding the angles associated with the vectors and how they relate to the x and y axes, which is affecting the calculations of the components.
Either angle (75* or 15*) would work, the problem arises when you apply the trig functions to find the components. For example, look at how the the cosine function is defined: cos(theta) = adj/hyp. In your second answer for the x component of F2, you are saying that the leg adjacent to the angle is on the x axis, when in reality it is along the y-axis according to the definition of cosine.Rich52490 said:F1 = 120cos(60*) = 60
120sin(60*) = 103.9
x and y = (60,103.9)
F2 = -75cos(75*) or is it -75cos(15*)? = -19 or -72.4
75sin(75*) or 75sin(15*) = 72.4 or 19
x and y = (-19,72.4) or is is it (-72.4, 19)