Calculating Vector Projections for Force Components

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lancelot59
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Projection Vector
Click For Summary
To find the components of the force along vectors AB and AC, unit vectors were calculated as \vec{AB}=<-1.5,-3,1> and \vec{AC}=<-1.5,-3,3>. The norms of these vectors were determined to be sqrt(12.25) for AB and sqrt(20.25) for AC. The vector projection formula was applied, but the initial answer was incorrect due to a sign error in the x component of AC. After correcting this mistake, the components of the vectors were verified, leading to the correct solution.
Lancelot59
Messages
640
Reaction score
1
Prob._2112.jpg


I need to find the components of the force along AB along AC.

So I got unit vectors for each like so:

\vec{AB}=&lt;-1.5,-3,1&gt;
\vec{AC}=&lt;-1.5,-3,3&gt;

Norm AB=sqrt(12.25). Norm AC=sqrt(20.25).

Then after multiplying the unit vector AB by the force I tried using the vector projection formula:

proj_{\vec{AB}}{\vec{AC}}=\frac{\vec{AB}\cdot\vec{AC}}{\norm{AB}\norm{AC}} \vec{AC}

But my answer was wrong. I don't know what the right answer is.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Verify the components of your vectors, paying attention to the directions of the axes.
 
I see, I had a - in the x component of AC. That did it, thanks.
 
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

Similar threads

Replies
26
Views
2K
Replies
14
Views
2K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K
Replies
12
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
1K
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
12
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
981
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K