Question

The figure shows four electrical charges located at the corners of a rectangle. Like charges, you will recall, repel each other while opposite charges attract. Charge B exerts a repulsive force (directly away from B) on charge A of 3.0 N. Charge C exerts an attractive force (directly toward C) on charge A of 6.0 N. Finally, charge D exerts an attractive force of 2.0 N on charge A.

Assuming that forces are vectors, what is the magnitude of the net force F exerted on charge A?

Answer 1

this is the figure

Answer 2

Do you actually want me to solve the problem, or are you just looking for a hint? I can do both, but the former will take me some time to write it all down and post it.

Answer 3

Alright, I'll do it out. Give me some time, though.

Answer 4

Ugh, actually, I wish I could just scan my handwriting. :c This is the most annoying thing to type.

Generally, though, decompose every vector force acting on charge A into its x and y components. To do this, we are given the distance between the charges. With right triangles, we can use trigonometry to find the component values.

Find every component x vector acting on A and add them. The same for y. Find the final force vector by doing simple vector addition.

I'm not willing to type out the work. Sorry.

Answer 5

you really only need to break up one vector: the one at an angle
the angle can be found using the sides of the rectangle
\[F_x=2\cos\theta\]\[F_y=2\sin\theta\]the other vectors are already entirely in either the x or y, so add it all up to find your resultant vector components, as said by badreferences