Resolving Forces: Logic & Effects

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Yh Hoo
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Forces Resolution
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the logic of resolving a main force into its component forces, particularly in the context of two-dimensional force analysis involving the x-axis and y-axis. Participants explore the implications of resolving forces acting on objects, such as those on an inclined plane, and question the existence and effects of certain components in this resolution process.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the logic behind resolving a force that acts perpendicularly to the axes, suggesting that such a force should not have components in those directions.
  • Another participant asserts that any vector can be resolved into any number of vectors, indicating flexibility in vector resolution.
  • There is a suggestion that the resolution of forces may depend on interactions with surrounding objects, raising the possibility of infinite ways to resolve a force.
  • A participant notes the existence of a related thread and suggests consolidating discussions to avoid missing contributions.
  • Another participant acknowledges a technical issue with uploading images, indicating a need for clearer communication in the thread.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of force resolution and its implications, with no consensus reached on the validity of the claims regarding the existence of components or the methods of resolution.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully resolved the assumptions regarding the nature of forces and their components, nor have they clarified the mathematical steps involved in their reasoning.

Yh Hoo
Messages
73
Reaction score
0
I have been thinking about the logic of resolution of a main force into its component forces. Up to my stage i have just come across with the 2-dimension force which take x-axis and y-axis as their basis. So if they take y and x-axis as the basis for the components of a single force, supposedly a force that acts perpendicularly to the horizontal x-axis or vertical y-axis should have no vertical components or horizontal components respectively.
Yet, while explaining the objects on an inclined plane with only its vertically downwards gravitational force(weight), people tends to resolve the only force which acts perpendicularly to the x-axis into 2 component forces, one of which acts parallel to the inclined plane while the other acts perpendicular to the inclined plane.Note that if we again resolve the 2 forces above into x-components and y-components, we find that these 2 forces have their x-components opposing each other and consequently cancel out ache other! it seems like logically these x-components originally are NOT EXISTED ! instead , we resolve them out and meanwhile they impart effects on the object as Action ! Mathematically, let's say we have a quantity 5. We say
5 = 10 - 5 , note that the quantity is never existed let's alone imparting any effects on the surrounding! the things we have now is only The 5! That's it. But why can we resolve in this way?? Maybe there is some misconception . Or is it because the force is actually an INTERACTION with the surrounding objects that will dependently affects the other objects in contact?? If it is true, meaning the force can be resolved in infinite ways as in figure 3. could somebody explain clearly for me?? Thanks you very much.
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
10=5+5 or 1+9 or 15-5 or 1+2+2+5 or 1+2+2+3+2 ...
Or 10=1+9=1+(6+3)
Likewise any vector can be resolved to any number of vectors.
Or a vector can be the sum of any number of vectors.
 
This thread deals with just the same question and it may be best to confine the discussion in just one thread or someone could miss some of the contributions.
 
Yes sir. Sorry because i faced problem in uploading photo as attachment. So there is a need for me to create another thread.:smile:
 
Ah, I see.
It's not too difficult to do that (on my browser, at least)
Just go to the 'advanced' option for a reply.
Perhaps it's a test of your 'resolution'? :biggrin:
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
5K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
6K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
1K