Two forces with magnitudes of 200 and 100 pounds act on an object at angles of 60° and 170° respectively. Find the direction and magnitude of these forces. Round to two decimal places in all intermediate steps and in your final answer.

Question

tkhunny · Answer

Can you use the angles to decompose the forces to their orthogonal component forces?

anonymous · Answer

im not even sure. It is for pre calculus, So i don think that has anything to do withorthogonal component forces.

tkhunny · Answer

Oh, yes it does.

200 lbs at 60º is $200\cdot\cos(60º)$ in the horizontal direction and $200\cdot\sin(60º)$ in the vertical direction.  Horizontal and Vertical are these orthogonal component forces.  You don't have to call them that.

anonymous · Answer

okay, I understand that, but would it be the same thing as above for the 100lbs and 170 degrees?

tkhunny · Answer

Yes.  You just need to be sure you know which way things go on the horizontal and vertical axes.

Something pushing from 60º will push DOWN on a standard vertical axis and LEFT on a standard horizontal axis.

Something pushing from 170º will push DOWN on a standard vertical axis and RIGHT on a standard horizontal axis.

Draw the forces and draw a little right traingle on each.  You should see it.