Determine Magnitude & Dir. of Resultant Force at Anchor Pt. of 2 Cables

In summary, the conversation discusses using a graphical method to determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant force acting on an anchor point of two cables under tension. The initial image provided was too small to view, but it has since been added to the conversation. The recommended method is to break both vectors into x and y components, add them together, and use them to form a right triangle to represent the resultant force. The conversation ends with a thank you from LiamFermoyle.
  • #1
LiamFermoylel
18
0

Homework Statement



Use a suitable graphical method to determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant force acting the anchor point of two cables under tension as shown:

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.editAlbumPhoto&albumID=1793679&imageID=24227865&MyToken=0cb4517b-8fb5-4f73-9f12-3d6a830070da

will have to save the image to your computer, it is to small to view on myspace.

im not asking anyone to solve my problem, just someone to help/explain how to work out the values for it.

Thanks
LiamFermoyle
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
It's been deleted or marked as private.
 
  • #3
G*d d*mn it! it shouldn't be marked private. and iv just added the pic :S. ill try again
 
  • #4
<a href="http://s301.photobucket.com/albums/nn60/LiamFermoyle/?action=view&current=untitled.jpg" [Broken] target="_blank"><img src="http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn60/LiamFermoyle/untitled.jpg" [Broken] border="0" alt="resultant force thing"></a>
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #5
untitled.jpg
 
  • #6
yeh. that's the diagram i was given to work with :S
 
  • #8
Break both vectors into x and y vectors. Keep track of directions, add the x vectors together, and the y vectors together, and you have two sides of a right triangle. Connect the two vectors together with a line from tail to head and that is your resultant vector.
 
  • #9
thanks dude. :P.

LF
 

1. How do you determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant force at the anchor point of 2 cables?

To determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant force at the anchor point of 2 cables, you will need to use vector addition. This involves breaking down the force vectors of each cable into their respective components and then adding them together to find the resultant force.

2. What are the steps to determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant force?

The first step is to draw a diagram of the cables and their respective forces. Then, break down each force into its horizontal and vertical components. Next, add the horizontal components together and the vertical components together. Finally, use the Pythagorean theorem and trigonometric functions to find the magnitude and direction of the resultant force.

3. What factors can affect the magnitude and direction of the resultant force?

The magnitude and direction of the resultant force can be affected by the angles at which the cables are pulling, as well as the tension and length of each cable. Additionally, external forces such as wind or water currents can also impact the resultant force.

4. Can the resultant force at the anchor point ever be zero?

Yes, it is possible for the resultant force at the anchor point to be zero. This occurs when the two cables are pulling in opposite directions with equal magnitude, canceling out each other's forces.

5. How can knowing the magnitude and direction of the resultant force at the anchor point be useful?

Knowing the magnitude and direction of the resultant force at the anchor point can be useful in a variety of scenarios, such as determining the stability of a structure or calculating the amount of force needed to counteract the resultant force. It can also help in designing and engineering structures that can withstand the forces of multiple cables.

Similar threads

  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
12
Views
16K
Back
Top