4 Forces and resultants

Skills check By sine rule, sin β= sin 160 ⇒ sin β= 0.1894 …

�

12 R
1. C ⇒ β = 10.9°
So resultant is 21.7 N at 10.9° to the 10 N force.

b) α = 45°, so θ = 135°
⇒ R2 = 102 + 122 − 2 × 10 × 12 cos 135°
8 km
= 244 − 240 cos 135°
⇒ R = 20.3 N (3 s.f.)
sinβ sin135D
= ⇒ β = 24.7° (3s.f.)
θ 12 R
B 6 km A
∴ Resultant is 20.3 N at 24.7° to the 10 N force.
8 c)
tan θ = = 1.33.. ⇒ θ = 53.1°
6
12 R
2. A 12

35° 105°
β
c 75°
b = 5.2 cm 10
51°
B R2 = 102 + 122 − 2 × 10 × 12 cos 75°
a
C = 244 − 240 cos 75°
a b = 181.88...
=
sin A sin B ⇒ R = 13.5 N (3 s.f.)
b sin A 5.2 sin 35° sin β sin75°
⇒a= = = ⇒ β = 59.3°
sin B sin 51° 12 R
⇒ a = 3.84 cm (3 s.f.) ∴ Resultant is 13.5 N at 59.3° to the 10 N force.
4 2 + 52 − 7 2 −8 2.
3. cos θ = = = −0.2
2×4×5 40 R
210
   ⇒ θ = 101.5°
θ 150° 30°
Exercise 4.1 300

a) R2 = 2102 + 3002 − 2 × 300 × 210 cos 150°

1.
12 = 134 100 − 126 000 cos 150°
R
12 = 243 219.2...
α
β
θ
⇒ R = 493 N (3 s.f.)
sin θ sin150°
10 = ⇒ sin θ ≈ 0.2129...
210 R
a) α = 20°, so θ = 180° − 20° = 160°
∴ θ = 12.3°
∴ R2 = 102 + 122 − 2 × 10 × 12 cos 160°
= 100 + 144 − 240 cos 160° b) This is a 3, 4, 5 triangle
scale factor 50, so
= 244 − 240 cos 160° R
150 N
R = 5 × 50 = 250 N
= 469.526...
θ
⇒ R = 21.7 N 200

150
tan θ = = 0.75 so θ = 36.9°
200

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 c) Find θ and α.
θ Using the cosine rule, scaling down by a

R factor of 1000,
500
135° 352 = 252 + 272 − 2 × 25 × 27 cos θ
45° 420 ⇒ 50 × 27 cos θ = 252 + 272 − 352
252 + 27 2 − 352
⇒ cos θ = = 0.09555...
50 × 27
R2 = 5002 + 4202 − 2 × 500 × 420 cos 135°
= 426 400 − 420 000 cos 135°  θ = 84.5°, so the angle between the forces
⇒
is 180° − 84.5° = 95.5°
= 723 384.8...
⇒ R = 851 N By sine rule, sinθ = sin α
35 25
sin θ = sin135
D
25sin θ
420 R ⇒ sin α = = 0.7110 …
35
⇒ sin θ = 0.34918... ⇒ α = 45.3°
⇒ θ = 20.4°
5. 120  
d) 160
X
125° 115°
120
b
R 55° 65°
a
160
θ 190
X

R = 160 + 190 − 2 × 160 × 190 cos 55°

2 2 2
160 120
=
= 61 700 − 60 800 cos 55° sin115 sin a
= 26 826.55... a = 42.8°

R = 164 N b = 180 − (115 + a ) = 22.2°

sin θ sin 55D 160 X
= ⇒ sin θ = 0.80020... =
160 R sin115 sin b

⇒ θ = 53.1° X = 66.6 N

3. 210   ⇒   R 6. 25° θ x θ = 180° − x − 25°

15° 310
θ = 155° − x
30° 130° 450
190 210
190 50°
620

R = 210 + 190 − 2 × 210 × 190 cos 130°

2 2 2 By cosine rule, scaling down by a factor of 10,
= 80 200 − 79 800 cos 130° 622 = 312 + 452 − 2 × 31 × 45 cos θ
= 131 494.4... 312 + 452 − 622
⇒ cos θ =
2 × 31 × 45
⇒ R = 363 N
= −0.3075...
sin θ sin130D
= ⇒ sin θ = 0.40137... ⇒ θ = 107.9°
190 R
⇒ θ = 23.7° ⇒ x = 155° − 107.9° = 47.1°
 23.7° − 15° = 8.7°
Exercise 4.2
1. a) 20 cos 45° = 14.1 N
∴ Resultant is 363 N at 8.7° below the horizontal.
b) 20 sin 45° = 14.1 N
4. 25000    25000 27000 2. a) −15 cos 30° = −13.0 N
θ
b) −15 sin 30° = −7.5 N
α
27000 3. a) 25 cos 60° = 12.5 N
R = 35000
b) −25 sin 60° = −21.7 N

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 Resolving (→) P + 3 cos 60° = 10 cos 45°
4. a) −5 3 cos 25D = −7.85 N
b) 5 3 sin 25D = 3.66 N
⇒ P = 10 cos 45° − 1.5
  
P = 5.57 N (3 s.f.)
5. a) −20 3 cos 45D = −24.5 N
D b) Resolving (←) P + 4 2 cos 30° = 15 cos 20°
b) −20 3 sin 45 = −24.5 N
⇒ P = 15 cos 20° − 4 2 cos 30°
Exercise 4.3 ⇒ P = 9.20 N (3 s.f.)
Answers are given to 3 s.f. Resolving (↓) Q = 15 sin 20° + 4 2 sin 30°
1. a) Resolving horizontally (→) = 15 sin 20° + 2 2
X = 50cos (180 − 140 ) ⇒ Q = 7.96 N (3 s.f.)
X = 38.3N
c) Resolving (→)
Resolving vertically (↑) P cos 40° = 12cos 20° + 10 + 25sin35°
Y = 50sin (180 − 40 ) 12 cos 20° + 10 + 25sin 35°
Y = 32.1N P=
cos 40°
↑ 12 = 16cos (180° − θ )
b) Resolving ( ) P = 46.5N
θ = 138.6° Resolving (↑)
↑ X = 16sin (180 − θ )
Resolving ( ) Q + 25cos35° = P sin 40° + 12sin 20°
X = 10.6 N Q = 46.5sin 40° + 12sin 20° − 25cos35°
Q = 13.5N
c) Resolving (↑) X = cos 80° = 0.695 N
Resolving (→) Y = 4 sin 80° = 3.94 N 3. 80N

d) Resolving (→) X cos 60° = 10

X = 20 N
Resolving (↑) Y = 15 + 20sin 60°
Y = 32.3N
45° 45°
e) Resolving (↑) X cos θ + 10 = 15cos30°
Resolving (→) X sin θ = 15sin30°
Dividing Q P
15sin 30° Resolving (→) P sin 45° = Q sin 45°
tan θ =
15cos30° − 10 P =Q
θ = 68.3°
15sin 30 Resolving (↑) P cos 45° + Q cos 45° = 80
X= 80
sin θ P +Q = = 113.1
cos 45°
X = 8.07 N
Hence P = Q = 56.6 N
f) Resolving (→) 4 sin75° = 7sin (180° − θ )
θ = 146.5° 4.
Resolving (↑) X = 4 cos ( 75) + 7cos (180° − θ )
X = 6.87 N
30°
g) Resolving (→) T + 5.6 cos (180° − θ) = 8 cos 35° T
  T = 3.34 N
Resolving (↑) 5.6sin (180° − θ ) = 8sin35°
θ = 125.0° F

2. a) Resolving (↑) Q + 3 sin 60° = 10 sin 45°

⇒ Q = 10 sin 45° − 3 sin 60°
Q = 4.47 N (3 s.f.) 15N

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 Resolving (↑) T cos30° = 15 b) In y-direction (↑) = 12 sin 45° = 8.485 ≈ 8.49 N
T = 17.3N c) Resultant = 14.52 + 8.49 2 = 16.8N
Resolving (→) F = T sin30° iii) a) In x-direction (→) = 8 cos 45° − 3 = 2.66 N
F = 8.66 N b) In y-direction (↑) = 8 sin 45° = 5.657 ≈ 5.66 N
c) Resultant = 2.66 2 + 5.66 2 = 6.25N
5. 10 N
iv) a) In x-direction (→) = 6 cos 60° − 2 cos 60°
20°
T 15° = 3 – 1 = 2N
F
b) In y-direction (↑) = 6 sin 60° − 2 sin 60°
Resolving (↑) 10sin 20° = F sin15° = 3 3 − 3 = 2 3N
10 sin 20°
F= = 13.2 N
( )
2
sin15° c) Resultant = 2 2 + 2 3 = 4N
Resolving (→) T = 10cos 20° + F cos15° v) a) In x-direction (→) = 4 cos 60° + 4 cos 45°
T = 22.2 N − 2 cos 30°
= 2 + 2 2 − 3 N = 3.10 N
6.
b) In y-direction (↑) = 4 sin 60° + 2 sin 30°
− 4 sin 45°
= 2 3 + 1 − 2 2 N = 1.64 N
20°
2T
c) Resultant = 3.10 2 + 1.64 2 = 3.50 N

vi) a) In x-direction (→) = 4 cos 60° − 4 cos 45°

− 6 cos 30°
F
=−2 2 2 − 3 3N
T 40° = −6.02 N
b) In y-direction (↑) = 4 sin 45° − 6 sin 30°
5g
− 4 sin 60°
Resolving (↑) 5 g + T cos 40° = 2T cos 20° = 2 2 − 3 − 2 3N

50 = −3.63 N
T=
2 cos 20° − cos 40° c) Resultant = ( −6.02 )2 + ( −3.63)2 = 7.04 N
T = 44.9 N
vii) a) In x-direction (→)
Resolving (→) F = 2T sin 20° + T sin 40° = 7 cos 30° + 6 + 5 cos 45° − 8 cos 45°
F = 59.6 N −10 cos 60°
7 3 5 8
= +6+ − −5
Summary exercise 4 2 2 2
7 3 3
1. i) a) Component in x-direction (→) = +1−
2 2
= 3 5 cos 35° − 12 cos 45° − 4 2 cos 60° 7 3 3 2
= +1− N = 4.94 N
= 5.495 – 8.485 – 2.828 = −5.82 N (3 s.f.) 2 2

b) Component in y-direction(↑) b) In y-direction (↑)

= 3 5 sin 35° + 12 sin 45° − 4 2 sin 60° = 10 sin 60° + 7 sin 30° − 5 sin 45°
− 8 sin 45°
= 3.848 + 8.485 – 4.899
7 13 2
= 7.43 N (3 s.f.) =5 3 + − N = 2.97 N
2 2
c) Resultant = ( −5.82 )2 + 7.432 = 9.44 N c) Resultant = 4.94 2 + 2.97 2 = 5.76 N
ii) a) In x-direction (→) = 12 cos 45° + 6 = 14.485
≈ 14.5 N

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2. a) Component in x-direction =
 12 cos 60° – 3 cos 30° d) 9.41
= 3.40 N θ
4.485
R
Component in y-direction = 12 sin 60° + 3 sin 30°
= 11.9 N
R = 9.412 + 4.4852
Magnitude of resultant = 3.40 + 11.90 = 12.4 N
2 2

≈ 10.4 N
b) Component in x-direction =
 2 – 8 cos 45° – 4 cos 60°
4.485 
= –5.66 N θ = tan−1  ≈ 25.5°
 9.41 
Component in y-direction = 8 sin 45° – 4 sin 60° So angle is 25.5° below the negative x-axis
= 2.19 N
4. a)
Magnitude of resultant = 5.66 + 2.19 = 6.07 N
2 2

X
c) Component in x-direction = 2 cos 45° – 7 cos 25° 30
= 4.93 N 135°
50
Component in y-direction =
 8 – 7 sin 25° – 2 sin 45°
= 3.63 N Using cosine rule
Magnitude of resultant = 4.93 + 3.63 = 6.12 N
2 2
X 2 = 502 + 302 − 2 × 50 × 30 cos 135°
d) Component in x-direction = 6 cos 30° – 2 = 3.20 N ≈ 5521.32
Component in y-direction = 5 + 6 sin 30° – 3 ⇒ X = 74.3 N
= 5N Alternatively:
Magnitude of resultant = 3.20 + 5.00 = 5.93N
2 2
30

3. a) R
0.586 45°
θ θ 50
4.88

R = 4.882 + 0.586 2
  X

  ≈ 4.91 N Resolving (→) 30cos 45° + 50 = X cos θ

0.586  Resolving (↑) 30sin 45° = X sin θ
θ = tan−1   ≈ 6.85°
4.88 
Dividing
b)
R X = ((30sin 45°)2 + (30cos 45° + 50 )2 ) = 74.3N
√6
b) X
θ θ
(2√6 – √2) 60°
35
2
R =  (2 6 − 2 ) 2 + 6 = 3.482 + 6
R ≈ 4.26 N α 25
⎛ 6 ⎞
and θ = tan−1 ⎜⎜ ⎟ ≈ 35.1°
⎝2 6 − 2 ⎟⎠ sin θ = sin 60°
25 35
c) 25 sin 60°
R
3.42 ⇒ sin θ =
35
θ
6.63
⇒ θ = 38.2° (must be acute as opposite a
shorter given side)
⇒ R = 6.632 + 3.42 2 ≈ 7.46 N
Hence α = 180° − 60° − θ = 81.8°
3.42 
  θ = tan  −1
35 sin α
 6.63  Hence
X
=
35
⇒X= ≈ 40 N
sin α sin 60° sin 60°
≈ 27.3°
So angle is 27.3° above the negative x-axis

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 Alternatively: 5. a) Resolving (↑) A + 4 sin 60° = 15 sin 25°
35 ⇒ A = 15 sin 25° − 4 sin 60°
≈ 2.88 N
θ Resolving (→) B + 4 cos 60° = 15 cos 25°
25 30°
⇒ B = 15 cos 25° − 2 ≈ 11.6 N
b) Resolving (↑) B = 13 3 sin 45° + 25 sin 30°
  ≈ 28.4 N
X
Resolving (→) A + 25 cos 30° = 13 3 cos 45°
Resolving (↑ ) 25cos30° = 35sin θ
θ = 38.2° and so α = 81.8° ⇒ A ≈ −5.73 N

Resolving (↑ ) X = 25cos 60° + 35cos θ c) Resolving (→) A cos 30° = 10 cos 60° + 8 cos 25°
X = 40 N 5 + 8 cos 25°
⇒A= ≈ 14.1 N
cos 30°
c)
7 Resolving (↑) A sin 30° + 8 sin 25° = B + 10 sin 60°
A
X B= + 8 sin 25° − 10 sin 60°
2
10 ≈ 1.79 N
d) Resolving (→) A cos 60° + 25 cos 45° = 39 cos 20°
X 2 = 102 + 72 = 149
A
⇒ X = 12.2 N (3 s.f.) ⇒ = 39 cos 20° − 25 cos 45°
2

d) 16 ⇒ A ≈ 37.9 N
50°
Resolving (↑) B + 25 sin 45° + 39 sin 20°
X = 40 + A sin 60° = 72.85759...
25
⇒ B ≈ 41.8 N
6. 250    
R
X = 16 + 25 − 2 × 16 × 25 cos 50°
2 2 2

α
≈ 366.7699 35° 350
350 180° – 35°= 145°
 ⇒ X = 19.2 N (3 s.f.)
e) R2 = 3502 +2502 – 2 × 350 × 250 cos 145°
60° 12N ⇒ R ≈ 573 N
sin α sin145°
15√3 N = ⇒ α ≈ 14.5°
250 R
X
Hence resultant is 573 N at 14.5° to the 350 N force.

X 2 = (15 3)2 + 122 − 2 × 15 3 × 12 cos 60° 7. 56    

47 56
≈ 507.23085
R
  ⇒ X = 22.5 N (3 s.f.)
f) X 47

50 R = 472 + 562 ≈ 73.1 N

40
⎛ 56 ⎞
30° at angle θ = tan−1 ⎜ ⎟ ≈ 50.0° to the 47 N force
⎝ 47 ⎠
X 2 = 502 + 402 − 2 × 50 × 40 cos 30°
= 635.898
⇒ X = 25.2 N (3 s.f.)

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8. X     R = 367.4 12. A

20° X
200 200 160° B θ

Using cosine rule

367.42 = 2002 + X 2 – 2 × 200 × X cos 160° C

⇒ 94982.76 = X + 375.877X 2
Resolving (→) B = A cos θ (1)
⇒ X 2 + 375.877X – 94982.76 = 0 Resolving (↑) C = A sin θ (2)
−375.877 ± 375.877 2 + 4 × 94982.76
⇒X= B
2 From (1) A =
cosθ
−375.877 ± 721.952
= B
2 Substituting in (2) ⇒ C = sin θ = B sin θ
cosθ cosθ
X > 0, so X ≈ 173 N
9. X     = B tan θ
√97
13. A
X 45°
120°
60°
8 A
8 θ

B
By cosine rule
( )
2
97 = X 2 + 82 – 2 × X × 8 cos 120° Resolving (→) A sin 45° + B sin θ = A
⇒ 97 = X 2 + 64 + 8X A
⇒ B sin θ = A −
2
⇒ X 2 + 8X – 33 = 0
⇒ (X + 11)(X – 3) = 0 2 −1
⇒ B sin θ = A (1)
⇒ X = −11 or 3 2
X > 0, so X = 3 N Resolving (↑) A cos 45° = B cos θ
A
10. 9     R = 17.86 ⇒ B cos θ = (2)
2
9
B sin θ 2 −1 A
θ 10 (1) ÷ (2) ⇒ =A ÷
180° – θ
B cosθ 2 2
10

Using the cosine rule 2 −1 2

⇒ tan θ = × = 2 −1
2 1
17.862 = 102 + 92 – 2 × 10 × 9 cos (180° − θ)
14. 13    
⇒ 318.9796 = 181 + 180 cos θ 5
⇒ 137.9796 = 180 cos θ α
12
⇒ cos θ = 0.766553…
⇒ θ ≈ 40.0° Component of resultant(→)
  = 20 + 30 cos 45°
11. X     + 10 cos α
R = √97 30 12
X   = 20 + + 10 ×
2 13
5 5 30 120
  = 20 + +
2 13
( )
2
X 2 + 52 = 55
Component of resultant(↑) = 30 sin 45° − 10 sin α
⇒ X 2 + 25 = 55 30 5
 
= − 10 ×
⇒ X = 30 2
2 13

⇒ X = 30 N ≈ 5.48 N 30 50
 
= −
2 13

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 30 50 4 4 3
− = 17.367 17. If tan ϕ = then sin ϕ = and cosϕ = .
2 13 3 5 5
30 Resolving forces in the x-direction:
120
20 + + = 50.444 A cosθ = 7.5sin ϕ + 8.5 + 2.5cosϕ
2 13
4 3
⇒ R2 = 17.3672 + 50.4442 A cosθ = 7.5 × + 8.5 + 2.5 ×
5 5
⇒ R ≈ 53.3 N A cosθ = 16
17.367
and tan θ = so θ ≈ 19.0° Resolving forces in the y-direction:
50.444
A sin θ + 2.5sin ϕ = 7.5cosϕ
Resultant is 53.3 N at 19.0° to 20 N force.
4 3
A sin θ + 2.5 × = 7.5 ×
15. R(↑) 6 − 4 cos 45° = 3.172… 5 5
A sin θ = 2.5
R(→) 5 − 3cos30° = 2.402…
Squaring and adding:
Hence the magnitude of the resultant force
A2 cos2 θ + A2 sin 2 θ = 162 + 2.52
is 3.1722 + 2.4022 = 3.98 N
A2 = 262.25
3.172  −1 
and the direction is tan  = 52.9° to the A = 16.2 N
 2.402 
5 N force. 2.5
tan θ =
16
16. R(↑) 7sin θ °
θ = 8.9°
R(→) 9 − 7cos θ °
72 sin 2 θ + ( 9 − 7cos θ ) = 112
2

49sin 2 θ + 81 − 126cos θ + 49cos2 θ = 121

9 = 126cos θ
θ = 85.9°
The component in the direction of the 9 N force is
9 − 7cos 85.9° = 8.5 N

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