The Work Done in Pulling a Supertanker

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves two tugboats pulling a disabled supertanker with specified forces and angles, requiring the calculation of work done over a distance. The subject area includes physics concepts related to forces and work.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculation of work done, with one original poster attempting to compute the work using a formula involving force and distance. Questions arise regarding potential mistakes in the calculation.

Discussion Status

Some participants indicate that the original poster's calculation may not contain an error, while others suggest that rounding might have affected the result. There is a mention of ensuring the correct use of degrees versus radians in calculations.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of using the correct angle measurement in calculations, highlighting a common source of error in physics problems.

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Homework Statement



Two tugboats pull a disabled supertanker. Each tug exerts a constant force of 1.90×10^6 N , one at an angle 13.0 degrees west of north, and the other at an angle 13.0 degrees east of north, as they pull the tanker a distance 0.840 km toward the north.

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



2 * (1.90×10^6 N) * cos(13) * 0.84 * 10^3 = 2.9 * 10 ^9

can anyone tell me where I did a mistake?

Thanks a lot before hand
 
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It does not look like you made a mistake.
 
rock_star said:

Homework Statement



Two tugboats pull a disabled supertanker. Each tug exerts a constant force of 1.90×10^6 N , one at an angle 13.0 degrees west of north, and the other at an angle 13.0 degrees east of north, as they pull the tanker a distance 0.840 km toward the north.


The Attempt at a Solution

Solution to what?
 
rock.freak667 said:
It does not look like you made a mistake.

It is showed that I made a mistake :(
Rounding error..
It is 3.11 not 2.9 :(

Thanks a lot though! :)
 
Last edited:
The correct answer is 3.11E+9. Make sure you use 13 DEGREES and not 13 RADIANS. If you entered into a *dumb* calculator, it usually assumes radians. Try writing

2*1.9E6*cos(13*pi/180)*0.84E3 into google, and it gives you the right answer.
 

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