How to represent this statement in a diagram?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around representing forces in a diagram, specifically focusing on two forces with magnitudes of 3N and 5N that form an angle of 60 degrees between them. Participants are examining the accuracy of different diagrammatic representations of these forces.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are questioning the representation of angles in the diagrams, particularly whether the angle between the vectors is accurately depicted as 60 degrees or 120 degrees. There are discussions about the importance of arrowheads in determining the direction and angle of the forces.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the diagrams. Some have provided clarifications regarding the angles, while others are seeking to understand the implications of the representations. There is no explicit consensus on the correctness of the diagrams, but there is engagement in examining the reasoning behind them.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working within the constraints of accurately depicting vector representations and are questioning the assumptions made in the initial diagram. There is an emphasis on understanding the relationship between the angles and the directions of the forces involved.

Benjamin_harsh
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Homework Statement
How to represent this statement in a diagram?
Relevant Equations
How to represent this statement in a diagram?
Statement: My friend represented this sentence "Two forces have magnitude of 3N and 5N, and have an angle of 60 between them" into this diagram:

243220


But why didn't he represent like this?:
243221
 
Last edited:
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Hi,

You can't tell until you add arrowheads. If A and B both point to the left in the first diagram (or both to the right), the angle is indeed 60 degrees.
And if e.g. A points to the left and B to the right, then the smallest angle to rotate A to make it align with B is 120 degrees.
 
BvU said:
Hi, You can't ...rees.

See, I made changes to my diagrams.
 
Yes, now my #2 post looks weird...

Never mind. The smallest angle you can rotate over to make them align and pointing in the same direction is 120 degrees in the top picture and 60 in the lower.
 
BvU said:
smallest angle you can rotate over to make them align and pointing in the same direction is 120 degrees in the top picture and 60 in the lower.

So both diagrams are fits the context ?
 
No. In the top diagram the angle between the two vectors is 120 degrees, not 60.
 
BvU said:
In the top diagram the angle between the two vectors is 120 degrees, not 60.
Are you saying second diagram is correct ?
 
What I say isn't important; what you understand is

In the bottom diagram the angle between the two vectors is 60 degrees
 
Benjamin_harsh said:
But why didn't he represent like this?
The short answer is: Because he was wrong.
 
  • #10
Orodruin said:
The short answer is: Because he was wrong.

Thank you :check:
 
  • #11
@Benjamin_harsh : it it clear to you now, and can you explain (e.g to your friend) why he was wrong ?
 
  • #12
BvU said:
@Benjamin_harsh : it it clear to you now, and can you explain (e.g to your friend) why he was wrong ?
YES, I will explain to him.
 

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