6

Forces of magnitudes P N and 25 N act at right angles to each other. The resultant of the two forces
has magnitude R N and makes an angle of θ ◦ with the x-axis (see diagram). The force of magnitude
P N has components −2.8 N and 9.6 N in the x-direction and the y-direction respectively, and makes
an angle of α ◦ with the negative x-axis.
(i) Find the values of P and R. [3]
(ii) Find the value of α , and hence find the components of the force of magnitude 25 N in
(a) the x-direction,
(b) the y-direction.
[4]
(iii) Find the value of θ . [3]
© UCLES 2006 9709/04/O/N/06

Two forces, each of magnitude 8 N, act at a point in the directions OA and OB. The angle between
the forces is θ ◦ (see diagram). The resultant of the two forces has component 9 N in the direction OA.
Find
(i) the value of θ , [2]
(ii) the magnitude of the resultant of the two forces. [3]

© UCLES 2007 9709/04/M/J/07

10 N

Forces of magnit udes 10 N and 8 N act in directions as shown in the diagram.

(i) Write down in terms of θ the component of the resultant of the two forces
(a) parallel to the force of magnitude 10 N, [1]
(b) perpendicular to the force of magnitude 10 N. [1]

(ii) The resultant of the two forces has magnitude 8 N. Show that cos θ = 58 . [3]

© UCLES 2008 9709/04/O/N/08

3
PN 12 N

40°
80° QN

Two forces have magnitudes P N and Q N. The resultant of the two forces has magnitude 12 N and
acts in a direction 40◦ clockwise from the force of magnitude P N and 80◦ anticlockwise from the
force of magnitude Q N (see diagram). Find the value of Q. [4]
9709/41/O/N/09
1
5.5 N

6.8 N
a°

7.3 N

Three coplanar forces act at a point. The magnitudes of the forces are 5.5 N, 6.8 N and 7.3 N, and the
directions in which the forces act are as shown in the diagram. Given that the resultant of the three
forces is in the same direction as the force of magnitude 6.8 N, find the value of α and the magnitude
of the resultant. [4]

9709/43/M/J/10

2
13 N

q° 14 N
O

Forces of magnitudes 13 N and 14 N act at a point O in the directions shown in the diagram. The
resultant of these forces has magnitude 15 N. Find
(i) the value of θ , [3]
(ii) the component of the resultant in the direction of the force of magnitude 14 N. [2]
9709/41/M/J/12

4
RN 12 N

8N
q°
10° 25°

2N

Three coplanar forces of magnitudes 8 N, 12 N and 2 N act at a point. The resultant of the forces has
magnitude R N. The directions of the three forces and the resultant are shown in the diagram. Find R
and θ . [7]
9709/41/O/N/12
6
y

FN
100 N

a° 30° x
60°

120 N

A small box of mass 40 kg is moved along a rough horizontal floor by three men. Two of the men
apply horizontal forces of magnitudes 100 N and 120 N, making angles of 30Å and 60Å respectively
with the positive x-direction. The third man applies a horizontal force of magnitude F N making an
angle of !Å with the negative x-direction (see diagram). The resultant of the three horizontal forces
acting on the box is in the positive x-direction and has magnitude 136 N.

(i) Find the values of F and !. [6]

(ii) Given that the box is moving with constant speed, state the magnitude of the frictional force
acting on the box and hence find the coefficient of friction between the box and the floor. [3]
9709/43/M/J/13
2
y
30 N

25 N
" !
x

20 N

Three coplanar forces act at a point. The magnitudes of the forces are 20 N, 25 N and 30 N, and the
directions in which the forces act are as shown in the diagram, where sin ! = 0.28 and cos ! = 0.96,
and sin " = 0.6 and cos " = 0.8.

(i) Show that the resultant of the three forces has a zero component in the x-direction. [2]

(ii) Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant of the three forces. [2]

(iii) The force of magnitude 20 N is replaced by another force. The effect is that the resultant force
is unchanged in magnitude but reversed in direction. State the magnitude and direction of the
replacement force. [1]
9709/42/O/N/14

3
Resultant PN

1Å
150 N 100 N
O

Three horizontal forces of magnitudes 150 N, 100 N and P N have directions as shown in the diagram.
The resultant of the three forces is shown by the broken line in the diagram. This resultant has
magnitude 120 N and makes an angle 75Å with the 150 N force. Find the values of P and 1. [7]

9709/43/O/N/15
3
50 N

O x
!
40 N

30 N

Coplanar forces of magnitudes 50 N, 40 N and 30 N act at a point O in the directions shown in the
7.
diagram, where tan ! = 24

(i) Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant of the three forces. [6]

(ii) The force of magnitude 50 N is replaced by a force of magnitude P N acting in the same direction.
The resultant of the three forces now acts in the positive x-direction. Find the value of P. [1]

9709/42/F/M/16

1
20 N

P 60Å
FN
60Å

30 N

Three coplanar forces of magnitudes F N, 20 N and 30 N act at a point P, as shown in the diagram.
The resultant of the three forces acts in a direction perpendicular to the force of magnitude F N. Find
the value of F. [3]
9709/43/O/N/17